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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hil 


http://archive.org/details/denisenedtoodlesOOjack 


DENISE 
AND   NED   TOODLES 


:Lls 


THE    NEW    PONY. 


DENISE 
AND   NED  TOODLES 

a  Urue  Stoq? 

BY 

GABRIELLE   E.  JACKSON 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 

C.  M.  RELYEA 


NEW  YORK 
THE  CENTURY  CO. 

1906 


Copyright,  1898, 
By  The  Century  Co. 


The  DeVinnc  Press. 


TO  MY  DEAR  YOUNG  FRIENDS 

/IDaE  an&  Xillian 

WHO  HAVE  PROVEN  THEM- 
SELVES VERY  KIND  AND  GEN- 
TLE CRITICS.THIS  LITTLE  TALE 
IS  MOST  AFFECTIONATELY 
INSCRIBED    BY    THE    AUTHOR 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I  A  Birthday  Surprise  i 
II  "Some  Days  must  be  Dark  and  Dreary"    ii 

III  Ned's  Christmas  Gift      .         .         .         .21 

IV  How    Denise   and    Ned   set   up   House- 

keeping   27 

V  Gentleman  Ned's  Quarters         .         .  34 

VI  Cooking,  Housekeeping,  and  "  Pokey  "  .  42 

VII  Farmer  Sutton 52 

VIII  An  Inviting  Lane 64 

IX  House-Cleaning  and  Mischief    .         .  70 

X  An  Epidemic  of  Mischief        .        .        .81 

XI  Ned  Develops  a  Taste  for  Taffy     .  90 

XII  Captain  Hamilton's  Plan         .         .         .  101 

XIII  Patsy  Murphy 109 

XIV  Birthday  Plans 121 

XV  Pokey  has  a  Dream     ....  130 

XVI  A  Nutting-Party 137 

XVII  Pokey  Tries  to  Study  Botany   .         .  148 

XVIII  The  "Chapel" 155 


viii  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

XIX  Anxious  Hours 166 

XX  An  Hour  of  Anguish  .         .         .        .        176 

XXI  Thanksgiving 182 

XXII  Pokey  Comes  to  Spend  Christmas     .        192 

XXIII  Ned  is  Put  through  his  Paces      .        .  199 

XXIV  Stockings 207 

XXV  The  Star  Actor's  Farewell  Appearance  217 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

The  New  Pony  Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Last  of  all  Came  the  Good-by  to  Ned,  and 

it  was  more  than  denise  could  endure  .  1 5 
A  Beautiful   Little    House    had   been    Built 

in  the  Yard 29 

Funniest  of  all  were  the   Dinners  given  to 

Ned,  Tan,  and  the  Dogs      .        .        .        -45 

Denise  and  Pokey  Petted  the  Little  Lamb  61 
After  the   House   was  in    Order,  the   Dolls 

had  to  be  Dressed 73 

The  Pan  and  Spoons  were  Flying  Wildly  out 

into  the  Middle  of  the  Road        .        .  93 

Patsy 113 

Ned  Reached  out  and  Grabbed  the  Candy.  117 
It  Took  Many   Days  and   Much  Patience   be- 
fore Ned  was  Pronounced  Perfect       .  127 
The  Birthday  Party  in  the  Woods  .        .        .  141 

In  the  Chapel 159 

Anxious  Hours .169 

Sleighing  on  Thanksgiving  Day     .        .        .  185 

The  Thanksgiving  Party 189 

Christmas  Morning 209 

The  Tiny  Cutter  Skimming  over  the  Smooth  Ice  221 


DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 


CHAPTER   I 


A    BIRTHDAY    SURPRISE 


Many  years  ago  (so  many  that  the  writer's 
little  daughter,  when  told  how  many,  asked : 
"Mama,  are  you  a  hundred  years  old  yet?") 
there  lived  in  a  pretty  town  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson  River,  not  many  miles  from  New 
York,  a  little  girl  named  —  well,  we  will  call 
her  Denise.  That  was  not  her  real  name,  but 
some  one  who  is  very  closely  related  to  her 
now  bears  it,  and  so  we  will  give  it  to  her. 
She  had  neither  brother  nor  sister,  and  was 
sometimes  a  little  bit  lonely,  even  though  she 


2  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

had  a  number  of  pets,  including  dogs,  kittens, 
rabbits,  birds,  and  a  beautiful  big  goat  named 
"  Tan "  to  drive  about  in  a  little  carriage. 
Tan  loved  her  dearly,  and,  when  not  har- 
nessed to  his  carriage,  would  follow  her  about 
like  her  big  Newfoundland  dog,  "  Sailor." 
No  matter  where  Denise  went,  the  goat  "  was 
sure  to  go,"  until  people  used  to  laugh  and 
say,  "  Here  come  Tan  and  Denise,"  instead 
of  "  Denise  and  Tan." 

The  little  girl  loved  her  pets  as  dearly  as 
they  loved  her ;  but  the  dream  and  desire  of 
her  life  was  to  have  a  dear  little  pony  to  ride 
and  drive,  and  —  last  but  by  no  means  least  — 
to  love ;  her  fondness  for  horses  amounted  to 
a  passion,  and  with  them  she  was  absolutely 
fearless.  They,  in  turn,  seemed  to  love  and 
comprehend  her  to  a  wonderful  degree,  re- 
sponding to  her  voice  and  submitting  to  her 
caresses  when  they  were  often  fractious  and 
quite  unruly  with  others. 

So  it  seemed  a  very  gratifying  ending  to 
the  long-cherished  wish,  when,  on  her  tenth 
birthday,  one  bright  October  morning,  her 
father  said  to  her : 

"  Many  happy  returns  of  the  day,  my  pet ! 
Run  to  Mama,  and  ask  her  to  dress  you  for  a 


A  BIRTHDAY   SURPRISE  3 

walk.  I  've  a  surprise  at  the  end  of  it  for 
both  her  and  you." 

"  Another  surprise  !  "  exclaimed  Denise. 
"  Why,  I  thought  I  'd  seen  all  the  surprises 
before  breakfast ! " 

"  No,  dear ;  I  've  another.  It  's  a  little 
thing,  and  if  you  don't  like  it  you  may  tell  it 
to  just  run  away,  as  you  have  no  place  for  it." 

"Now,  what  can  it  be?"  thought  Denise, 
as  she  hurried  up-stairs,  and,  bursting  into 
Mama's  room,  cried :  "  Oh,  Mama,  dress  me 
quickly,  please,  for  Papa  has  a  walk  "at  the 
end  of  a  surprise,  and  you  're  not  to  know  a 
thing  about  it,  either  !  " 

Never  were  curls  made  tidy  so  quickly,  or 
clothes  scrabbled  on  in  such  a  hurry.  Before 
Papa  had  time  to  find  hat,  gloves,  or  cane,  a 
very  excited  little  girl  stood  before  him  cry- 
ing: "  If  you  don't  start  quickly,  I  just  know 
my  head  will  fly  off — like  a  bottle  of  soda- 
water  that  's  all  fizz  !  " 

About  thirty  minutes'  walk  along  the  shore 
of  the  beautiful  river,  whose  waters  seemed  to 
dance  and  sparkle  in  sympathy  with  Denise 
as  she  pranced  and  skipped  along,  brought 
them  to  the  village,  where  Papa  turned  down 
a  side  street  which  led  to  a  livery-  and  board- 


4  DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

ing-stable.  Denise's  heart  began  to  beat  so 
loudly  that  she  felt  sure  it  could  be  heard, 
and  her  brown  eyes  to  sparkle  as  though 
some  one  had  dropped  a  little  diamond  into 
each. 

"  Oh,  me  !  "  she  whispered  to  herself.  "  I 
just  know  it  's  a  new  carriage  and  set  of  har- 
ness for  Tan  !  Papa  has  asked  Mr.  Andrews 
to  get  it  for  me  because  he  heard  me  say  that 
the  old  ones  were  getting  very  shabby  for 
such  a  handsome  goat." 

Tan,  by  the  way,  was  an  unusually  large 
specimen  of  his  kind,  measuring  quite  thirty- 
two  inches  at  the  shoulders,  and  boasting  a 
head  and  pair  of  horns  that  were  the  admira- 
tion of  all  who  saw  them.  He  was  named 
Tan  because  of  the  color  of  his  hair,  which 
was  a  bright  tan,  and  shone  like  satin  when 
well  brushed  by  John,  the  coachman.  So  the 
prospect  of  a  new  harness  and  carriage  for 
Tan  was  quite  enough  to  set  Denise's  heart 
dancing. 

At  last  the  stable  was  reached,  and  the 
first  thing  her  eyes  fell  upon  was  a  beautiful 
little  phaeton  with  bright  yellow  wheels,  and 
a  shining  top  that  could  be  raised  and  low- 
ered, "just  like  big  folks'." 


A   BIRTHDAY   SURPRISE  5 

In  the  bottom,  for  her  feet  to  rest  upon, 
was  a  little  yellow  Angora-wool  rug,  to  match 
the  color  of  the  wheels.  On  the  seat  was  a 
soft,  white  wool  blanket,  bound  with  yellow 
silk,  and  in  one  corner  was  fastened  a  big 
blanket-pin  that  was  certainly  intended  to 
pin  that  blanket  snugly  around  something's 
throat.  Over  the  shining  dash-board  was 
folded  a  handsome  fur  robe,  made  of  a  leop- 
ard's skin,  and  trimmed  all  round  the  edges 
with  wildcat's  fur. 

The  leopard's  head  looked  very  fierce,  as  it 
stared  at  Denise  with  big  glass  eyes ;  but  I 
hardly  think  that  a  live  leopard  would  have 
made  much  impression  on  her,  so  speechless 
and  dumb  had  this  fascinating  sight  turned 
her. 

But  when  she  went  closer,  and  took  out  the 
exquisite  little  whip  which  stood  in  the  whip- 
socket,  and  read  her  own  initials  on  the  gold 
band  which  held  the  dainty  ivory  handle  to 
the  snakewood  stick,  her  joy  began  to  pour 
forth  in  a  torrent  of  words  which  quite 
drowned  the  remark  of  old  John,  who  stood 
by,  enjoying  it  all  as  though  the  whole  thing 
had  been  planned  for  one  of  his  own  little 
Johns  at  home. 


6  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"Whisht,  darlint !  while  I  roon  and  fitch  up 
the  little  hoorse  that  fits  insoide,"  said  he,  as 
he  disappeared  through  a  side  door. 

Presently  Denise's  ears  heard  a  patter, 
patter  !  patter,  patter  !  Looking  behind  her, 
she  beheld  the  dearest,  darlingest  little  pony 
that  any  one  ever  saw ! 

He  was  black  as  a  crow  from  the  tip  of 
his  saucy  little  nose  to  the  end  of  the  long 
silky  tail  that  dragged  on  the  ground  behind 
him,  except  one  little  white  moon  just  back 
of  his  right  eye,  which  seemed  to  have  been 
put  there  on  purpose  to  kiss,  it  was  so  soft 
and  round. 

For  a  moment  Denise  did  not  move  or 
speak,  and  then,  with  a  cry  of  delight  which 
amply  repaid  her  father  for  his  long  weeks  of 
searching  and  planning  for  this  perfect  little 
turnout,  she  flung  her  arms  around  the  pony's 
neck  and  laughed  and  cried  and  kissed  him 
until  the  poor  little  fellow  was  quite  bewil- 
dered, and  did  not  know  whether  his  new 
mistress  was  one  to  be  desired   or  avoided. 

Presently,  however,  he  decided  that  it  was 
all  right,  and,  with  a  little  neigh,  he  thrust 
his  soft  nose  into  her  hands,  pressed  his 
face  close  to  hers,  searched  her  pockets  for 


A  BIRTHDAY   SURPRISE  7 

sugar,  and  tried  to  say  as  plainly  as  a  horse 
could : 

' 'This  is  my  new  little  mistress,  and  as  she 
seems  to  love  me  already,  I  'm  going  to  show 
her  how  much  /  can  love  her." 

Then  John  produced  the  harness  that  fitted 
the  "little  hoorse"  which  "fitted  insoide,"and 
before  many  minutes  the  new  pony  was  har- 
nessed to  the  phaeton  that  had  been  made  to 
his  measure. 

No  words  can  express  the  rapture  of  that 
drive.  To  hold  the  pretty  reins  and  feel  the 
prompt  response  given  by  the  well-trained 
little  animal ;  to  watch  his  pranks  and  antics 
as  he  dashed  along,  apparently  trying  to  show 
how  graceful  he  could  be  in  order  to  con- 
vince his  new  mistress  that  he  left  nothing 
to  be  desired  —  it  really  seemed  too  good  to 
be  true,  and  Denise  feared  that  it  might  all 
be  a  dream  from  which  she  would  waken  and 
find  that  pony  and  all  had  vanished ! 

The  little  feet  fairly  flew  over  the  ground, 
and  the  drive  home  was  quite  the  shortest 
she  had  ever  known. 

Mama  stood  on  the  piazza,  watching  for 
the  surprise  to  come ;  and  when  she  saw  the 
handsome  pony  and  the  carriage  with  her 


8  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

husband  and  her  own  little  daughter  sitting 
in  it  come  dashing  up  the  driveway,  she  was 
as  much  pleased  as  mothers  usually  are  when 
they  know  that  their  little  girls'  dearest  wishes 
are  realized. 

The  entire  household  had  to  be  summoned 
to  see  and  admire  this  pony,  which  was  surely 
more  wonderful  than  any  pony  that  had  ever 
lived ;  and  the  charming  little  fellow  was 
talked  to  and  caressed  and  petted  and  fed 
with  apples  and  sugar  until  he  was  in  a  very 
fair,  way  to  be  made  ill. 

"And  now,"  said  Denise,  "what  shall  we 
name  him,  Mama  ?  " 

"  You  must  name  him  yourself,  darling," 
answered  Mama,  "  for  he  is  all  your  very 
own,  to  love  and  care  for." 

"Well,"  said  Denise,  in  a  tone  which  set- 
tled the  matter  beyond  all  question,  "  I  'm 
going  to  call  him  'Ned  Toodles';  'Ned' 
because  he  is  as  black  as  old  darky  Ned 
who  comes  for  the  ashes,  and  '  Toodles '  be- 
cause he  is  so  little  and  round  and  roly- 
poly." 

So  "Ned  Toodles"  was  the  name  given  to 
the  dear  little  pony,  who  thenceforth  figured 
very  conspicuously  in  the  life  and  pranks  of 


A   BIRTHDAY    SURPRISE  9 

his  mistress,  and  now  and  again  caused  many 
a  twinge  of  jealousy  among  the  other  pets. 

At  last  Denise  was  persuaded  to  let  Ned 
be  led  away  to  his  new  quarters,  John  ex- 
claiming, as  he  marched  off  with  his  small 
charge  in  tow :  "  Faith  !  howiver  am  I  to  clane 
sooch  a  shcrap  of  a  thing  as  this  ?  I  '11  have 
to  be  hoontin'  up  a  big  box  to  shtand  him 
on ! " 

And,  sure  enough,  that  was  exactly  what 
he  had  to  do,  and  it  took  but  a  short  time  for 
the  intelligent  little  animal  to  learn  just  what 
the  box  was  for ;  as  soon  as  his  stall  was 
opened,  he  would  march  out,  get  upon  the 
box,  stand  very  still  while  he  was  curried, 
and  then  lift  first  one  dainty  little  foot  and 
then  each  of  the  others  to  have  it  properly 
cleaned  and  washed. 

Nothing  gave  John  greater  satisfaction 
than  to  brush  the  beautiful  coat  until  it  shone 
like  moleskin,  and  to  comb  the  silky  mane 
and  tail  until  each  particular  hair  seemed  to 
stand  out  for  very  pride. 

Ned  soon  grew  to  love  his  little  mistress 
very  dearly,  and  to  answer  with  a  loud  neigh 
the  queer,  piping  whistle  by  which  she  always 
called  to  him. 


io  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

No  pen  can  describe  the  delightful  drives 
of  the  charming-  autumn  days.  Jack  Frost 
seemed  particularly  gracious  that  year,  and 
painted  the  trees  more  gorgeously  than  ever 
before.  At  least,  it  seemed  so  to  Denise ; 
but  perhaps  seeing  it  all  from  her  own  little 
carriage  as  she  drove  along  in  the  golden 
sunshine,  singing  to  Ned  a  certain  little  song 
of  which  he  never  seemed  to  tire,  gave  an 
added  charm  to  everything. 

This  song  was  all  about  a  "poor  little 
robin,"  whose  name  was  "  Toodle-de-too"; 
and  Ned  seemed  to  think  that  it  had  been 
composed  especially  for  him,  and  would  in- 
variably go  very  slowly  as  soon  as  Denise 
began  to  sing  it,  and  would  turn  back  one 
ear,  as  though  to  hear  it  better. 

When  the  song  was  ended  he  would  give 
a  funny  little  jump  of  approval,  and  then  trot 
on  again. 

And  so  the  happy  autumn  days  sped  by, 
and  the  longer  she  owned  him  the  more  cer- 
tain little  Denise  felt  that  there  never  had 
been  so  happy  an  introduction  before  as  that 
which  made  her  acquainted  with  her  saga- 
cious, affectionate  pony,  Ned  Toodles. 


CHAPTER  II 

SOME    DAYS    MUST    BE    DARK   AND    DREARY " 

[HE  days  slipped  quickly  by.  Each 
crisp,  frosty  morning  Denise  drove 
Papa  to  the  station,  and  each  even- 
ing went  to  fetch  him  home.  At  first  Ned 
did  not  know  what  to  make  of  the  big  iron 
horse  that  came  snorting  and  panting  into 
the  depot,  and  was  strongly  tempted  to  jump 
and  run.  But  Denise  was  too  good  a  horse- 
woman to  permit  such  pranks,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  she  quieted  his  fears,  and  in 
a  short  time  he  was  ready  to  follow  her  right 
up  to  the  engine  and  touch  it  with  his  nose 
wherever  she  laid  her  hand  upon  it,  let  it 
pant  and  puff  as  hard  as  it  could. 

The  engineer  seemed  to  consider  it  a  good 
joke,  and  often  came  down  out  of  his  cab  to 
speak  to  Denise  and  stroke  little  Ned's  soft 
nose. 

Many  years  have  passed,  but  the  engineer 


12  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

is  still  at  his  post,  running  engine  274,  and 
never  fails  to  have  a  kind  word  and  smile  for 
the  little  Denise  who  now  skips  and  dances 
beside  the  one  whose  pony  he  used  to  pet 
and  helped  to  teach  that  locomotives  were 
not  going  to  run  off  their  tracks  just  to  chase 
small  horses. 

The  confidence  Ned  grew  to  feel  in  his 
little  mistress  was  wonderful  to  witness,  and 
there  was  simply  nothing  she  could  not  do 
with  him,  or  induce  him  to  do  for  her.  Each 
morning  brought  its  lessons  with  her  gov- 
erness, Miss  Meredith,  and  from  nine  until 
twelve  o'clock  Master  Ned  had  to  amuse 
himself  by  watching  John  or  the  big  horses, 
and  telling  his  adventures  to  them  in  horse 
language. 

He  was  very  happy  in  his  new  home,  and 
surely  never  was  pony  more  beloved  and 
petted. 

So  we  cannot  wonder  that  Denise  felt  as 
though  her  heart  must  break  when,  one  even- 
ing in  November,  Papa  said  that  it  would  be 
necessary  for  them  to  go  to  town  for  two  or 
three  months,  and  the  house  would  have  to 
be  closed  and  left  in  the  charge  of  the  ser- 
vants. 


"SOME  DAYS  MUST  BE  DARK  AND  DREARY"    13 

"But,  Papa,"  said  Denise,  "surely  you  will 
not  leave  Ned  behind  ?  " 

"  I  fear  we  must,  little  daughter,"  was  the 
reply.  "We  shall  have  no  place  in  town  to 
keep  him ;  and  even  had  we,  I  should  not 
like  my  little  girl  to  drive,  through  the  city 
streets,  and  we  shall  not  be  near  the  park." 

Denise  was  not  a  model  child,  and  did  not 
possess  a  submissive  spirit  by  any  means ; 
but  she  had  been  taught  one  thing,  and 
taught  thoroughly,  and  it  was  that  teasing 
is  selfish  and  inconsiderate,  especially  when 
once  a  wise  reason  has  been  given. 

The  reason  was  always  forthcoming,  and 
she  was  encouraged  to  look  upon  a  question 
from  all  sides,  and  consequently  many  a 
wretched  hour  and  trying  scene  were  spared. 

So  now  she  struggled  against  the  tears 
which  would  well  up  in  spite  of  her  bravest 
efforts,  and  said : 

"  Please,  Papa,  may  I  come  sometimes  to 
see  him  and  the  other  children  ? "  For  her 
pets  seemed  like  children  to  her,  which  must 
be  loved  and  taught  as  she  herself  was  by 
Papa  and  Mama,  whom  she  considered  the 
very  wisest  and  best  that  had  ever  lived. 

"  Darling,  let  me  tell  you  something,"  said 


14  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Papa,  drawing  her  to  him  and  holding  her 
close.  "  I  do  not  wish  to  promise  something 
I  may  be  unable  to  fulfil,  and  so  I  '11  tell  you  at 
once  that  it  is  very  improbable  that  you  will 
get  out  to  see  'the  children  '  before  our  return 
in  March.  But  I  want  my  little  girl  to  try  to 
be  patient,  as  the  months  will  soon  slip  away 
and  I  hardly  think  she  will  regret  it  in  the 
end.  Ned  will  be  well  cared  for  during  your 
absence,  for  John  is  very  fond  of  his  small 
charge,  and  will  never  forget  his  morning 
lump  of  sugar,  nor  the  tidbits  for  the  other 
pets. 

All  too  soon  came  the  morning  when  all 
was  ready  for  the  short  journey  to  the  city. 
It  was  a  gloomy,  showery  morning,  as  though 
the  weather  was  in  sympathy  with  Denise 
and  was  glad  to  feel  dismal  too. 

The  pets  were  all  visited  for  the  last  time. 
The  rabbits  had  their  parsley,  the  kittens 
their  saucer  of  milk,  Sailor  a  bone  saved  from 
breakfast,  and  Tan  his  carrot. 

The  four  birds  and  "  Beauty  Buttons" — 
the  little  black-and-tan  terrier  —  were  to  ac- 
company the  family  to  town,  so  only  Ned 
and  the  big  horses  remained  to  be  bidden 
farewell. 


LAST    OF    ALL    CAME    THE    GOOD-BY   TO    NED,   AND    IT    WAS    MORE 
THAN    DENISE    COULD    ENDURE." 


"SOME  DAYS  MUST  BE  DARK  AND  DREARY"     17 

Into  the  great  box-stalls  went  Denise  with 
her  sugar,  for  the  little  girl  was  perfectly  fear- 
less, and  knew  that  the  horses  loved  her  too 
dearly  to  harm  her  in  any  way. 

Their  big,  silky  heads  were  thrust  down 
beside  her  face,  and  the  great,  intelligent  eyes 
looked  at  her  as  though  trying  to  express 
their  love  and  good-by  in  a  language  we 
can  soon  understand  if  we  are  fond  of  the 
beautiful  dumb  creatures. 

"  Good-by,  'Sunshine,'"  said  Denise,  hold- 
ing the  warm  muzzle  close  to  her  face.  "  Be 
a  good  horse  and  don't  forget  me." 

Then  going  into  the  adjoining  stall,  she 
laid  her  face  against  "  Flash's "  silky  neck, 
and  the  great  beast,  although  well  meriting 
his  name,  was  as  quiet  as  a  lamb. 

"  Good-by,  dear  old  horse.  I  '11  come  back 
just  the  very  minute  I  can,  and  give  you  and 
Sunshine  such  lots  of  sugar  to  pay  up  for  all 
you  '11  miss  while  I  'm  gone." 

Last  of  all  came  the  good-by  to  Ned,  and 
it  was  more  than  Denise  could  endure ;  so 
putting  her  arms  around  the  soft,  warm  neck, 
she  hid  her  face  in  the  shaggy  mane  and 
sobbed  as  hard  as  she  could  sob. 

"  Oh,  Ned,  Ned,  Ned  !  how  am  I  ever  to  get 


18  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

on  without  you?"  she  cried.  And  the  little 
fellow  seemed  to  realize  that  something  was 
very,  very  wrong,  for  he  laid  his  head  on  her 
shoulder  and  gave  a  soft,  subdued  little 
whinny,  very  unlike  those  he  usually  gave 
his  little  mistress,  as  though  he  was  trying  to 
comfort  her. 

It  was  a  comfort,  for  after  a  time  the  bitter 
sobs  ceased,  and  Denise  kissed  him  again 
and  again,  and  at  last  left  him  to  good  John, 
who  was  much  affected  by  the  pathetic  little 
scene,  and  vowed  a  mighty  vow  in  his  kind 
Irish  heart  that  "thot  shmall  hoorse  should 
be  afther  havin'  the  best  attintion  John 
Noonan  could  give  him." 

When  Denise  joined  her  father  and  mother, 
the  traces  of  tears  told  them  how  hard  the 
parting  had  been  for  their  little  girl. 

"Poor  little  thing,"  whispered  Mama;  "I 
really  believe  she  has  suffered  as  keenly  as 
you  or  I  would,  were  we  called  upon  to  part 
with  a  dear  friend,  for  Ned  has  become  a  part 
of  her  very  existence." 

"Well,"  answered  Papa,  "if it  is  within  my 
power,  I  shall  make  it  up  to  her  in  some  way, 
for  she  has  yielded  without  a  murmur  and 
made  her  sacrifice  very  bravely,   dear  little 


"SOME  DAYS  MUST  BE  DARK  AND  DREARY"    19 

body !  But  I  have  a  plan  in  my  head,  which, 
with  a  little  help  from  you,  dear,  I  think,  will 
make  her  return  home  such  a  happy  one  that 
she  will  never  regret  having  been  so  con- 
siderate of  us." 

Presently  all  were  on  the  train  speeding 
toward  New  York ;  and  as  they  flew  along, 
going  farther  and  farther  from  the  beloved 
pony,  Papa  and  Mama  talked  over  the  plan 
in  a  tone  too  low  for  Denise  to  guess  that  she 
was  the  subject  of  the  conversation,  or  ever 
to  dream  of  the  wonderful  plan  which  was 
being  turned  about  for  her  happiness. 

So  her  little  moan  was  made  ;  and  at  the 
end  of  a  few  hours  she  found  herself  estab- 
lished in  a  big  hotel  in  the  city,  with  enough 
noise  and  bustle  all  about  her  to  keep  both 
eyes  and  ears  busy,  and  help  her  forget  for  a 
time  a  pert  little  head  and  pair  of  soft  brown 
eyes  far  away  up  the  river. 

But  only  for  a  short  time ;  for  often  during 
the  three  months  in  town  she  felt  as  though 
she  must  run  away  for  one  hug  and  one  kiss 
on  the  tiny  white  moon  beside  Ned  Toodles's 
right  eye. 

Good  reports,  however,  came  from  John, 
for  the  faithful  creature  nearly  paralyzed  his 


20  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

fingers  in  his  endeavors  to  keep  Denise  well 
informed ;  and  before  she  realized  it  Decem- 
ber had  nearly  passed,  and  Christmas,  with 
its  innumerable  pleasures,  surprises,  and  what 
not,  was  at  hand ;  and  Christmas  to  Denise 
usually  meant  a  great  deal,  and  brought  with 
it  enough  to  keep  eyes,  ears,  and  hands  busy 
for  several  months. 

This  year  was  to  be  no  exception,  for  Ned 
must  figure  in  all  the  plans,  and  how  he  fared 
must  be  told  in  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  III 


NEDS    CHRISTMAS    GIFT 


^MA,"  said  Denise,  one  morning, 
shortly  before  Christmas,  "what 
cd7i  I  get  for  Ned's  Christmas  pres- 
ent ?  He  does  n't  need  a  new  blanket,  or 
anything  of  that  sort,  so  what  shall  it  be  ? " 

"  Surely  he  must  have  something,  and  who 
shall  say  what  ? "  answered  Mama,  who  usu- 
ally entered  heart  and  hand  into  her  little 
girl's  plans. 

"  Seems  to  me  he  has  just  everything  now, 
and  I  can't  think  of  a  single  thing  for  him," 
said  Denise,  in  despair. 

"  Suppose  we  ask  Papa  to  help  us  answer 
so  weighty  a  question,"  suggested  her  mother. 

"Just  the  thing  !  "  cried  Denise  ;  and  when 
Papa  arrived  the  problem  was  given  to  him 
to  solve. 

"  Something  for  Ned  ?  Have  n't  you  for- 
gotten that  little  black  scamp  ? "  said  he, 
pinching  Denise's  cheek. 


22  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"Forgotten  Ned!  As  though  I  could  for- 
get him  for  one  half-minute!"  exclaimed  Ned's 
mistress,  indignantly. 

"And  he  must  have  something,  must  he? 
Why  not  send  him  a  little  stick  and  have  it 
fastened  up  in  his  stall  to  act  as  a  hint  for 
good  behavior  ? " 

"You  're  not  to  tease  me  another  bit,  but 
just  sit  down  in  that  chair,  so"  —  pushing 
him  into  the  easy-chair —  "and  let  me  crawl 
into  your  lap,  so  "  —  curling  herself  into  a  lit- 
tle round  ball  like  a  kitten  —  "and  think  as 
hard  as  ever  you  can  think." 

"'A  horse!  ahorse!  My  kingdom  for  a 
horse  ! ' — a  very  little  one  !"  said  Papa,  laugh- 
ing. "That  ever  I  should  have  to  sit  down 
and  think  seriously  of  what  I  should  give  a 
horse  for  his  Christmas,  you  small  tyrant ! 
Well,  there,  suppose  we  take  a  walk  to- 
morrow a.  m.  to  a  store  I  happen  to  know  of, 
and  we  will  see  what  can  be  found." 

"  I  just  believe  you  've  ordered  something 
already,"  said  Denise,  "and  have  talked  all 
this  nonsense  to  make  me  believe  you  had  n't 
thought  a  thing  of  it." 

"You  do  'muchee  thinkee,'  as  Sam  Sing 
said  to  me  a  few  days  since,  when  I  asked 
him  how  he  managed  to  keep  track  of  all  his 


NED'S   CHRISTMAS   GIFT  23 

laundry  work.  That  little  head  of  yours 
should  n't  be  able  to  '  muchee  think '  at 
Christmas-tide,  don't  you  know  that  ? "  was 
her  father's  answer. 

Bright  and  early  the  next  morning  the 
trio  started  out,  Papa  leading  the  way  to  a 
big  harness-store  on  Broadway,  which  he 
entered  as  though  he  were  no  stranger  to  the 
place. 

"  How  is  my  order  coming  on,  Mr.  Lenox  ?" 
was  the  first  question  put. 

"  Finely,  sir ;  what  do  you  think  of  it  ?  " 
said  the  salesman,  bringing  from  a  case  a 
beautiful  little  side-saddle,  bridle,  and  whip. 

Denise  clapped  her  hands  and  exclaimed, 
"I  knew  it!  I  knew  it!"  but  whether  she 
meant  the  saddle  or  whip  was  not  explained. 

"  Is  this  the  young  lady  who  is  to  mount 
this  saddle?"  asked  Mr.  Lenox.  "Suppose 
we  try  how  it  sits,  little  miss";  and  he  placed 
it  upon  a  small  wooden  horse  standing  at 
hand.  After  adjusting  everything  properly, 
he  lifted  Denise  to  her  seat  and  placed  the 
reins  and  whip  in  her  hands. 

"  Oh,  if  it  were  only  Ned  Toodles  !  "  said 
she.  "  It  would  be  simply  perfect !  Do  you 
think  it  will  fit,  Papa  ? " 

"  I  should  n't  wonder  if  it  did,  for  Ned  sent 


24  DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

me  his  waist  measure  and  told  me  he  pre- 
ferred gray  castor  to  brown  for  the  seat." 

"I  'm  going  to  write  to  John  the  very  min- 
ute I  get  home,  and  ask  him  to  tell  Ned  all 
about  it.  He  '11  understand  and  be  delighted, 
I  know,"  said  Denise,  half  beside  herself  with 
pleasure. 

But,  as  often  happens,  one  acquisition  ne- 
cessitates number  two,  and  it  was  soon  dis- 
covered that  a  saddle  and  bridle  without  a 
habit  were  very  like  a  cart  without  a  horse ; 
and  the  next  question  to  be  answered  was, 
What  shall  the  habit  be  ? 

"That,"  said  Papa,  "is  not  in  my  line,  and 
I  '11  leave  it  to  Mama  and  you." 

"Then  my  suggestion,"  said  Mama,  when 
the  question  was  submitted,  "would  be  a 
brown  habit,  brown  hat,  and  brown  gloves  to 
match  brown  eyes  and  brown  hair.  What 
do  you  say  to  it  ? " 

So,  brown  it  was ;  and  in  due  time  all  was 
completed,  and  it  was  only  necessary  for 
spring  to  come  in  order  to  try  the  effect  of 
saddle,  bridle,  habit,  and  all. 

Christmas  morning  dawned  bright  and 
frosty,  and  "Merry  Christmas!"  "Merry 
Christmas!"  sounded  back  and  forth  from 
Denise's  room  and  Papa's  and  Mama's;  for 


NED'S   CHRISTMAS   GIFT  25 

sleep  was  quite  out  of  the  question,  when  a 
big  tree  with  plenty  of  pretty  things  on  it, 
and  bundles  galore  lying  beneath,  stood  just 
beyond  a  closed  door  in  Mama's  sitting-room. 
So  instead  of  forty  extra  winks  for  a  holiday 
it  was  many  less,  and  the  dressing  was  done 
in  short  order. 

Denise  could  scarcely  swallow  her  break- 
fast, so  eager  was  she  to  see  the  gifts.  And 
well  she  might  be,  for  few  little  girls  were 
more  generously  remembered  than  this  for- 
tunate little  one  whose  true  story  I  am  telling 
you.  But  at  last  the  breakfast  was  disposed 
of,  and  to  Denise  it  seemed  as  though  Papa 
had  never  eaten  so  heartily  or  so  slowly. 

But  all  things  come  to  an  end,  and  in  time 
Papa's  appetite  was  appeased,  and  he  was 
ready  to  distribute  the  pretties. 

First,  a  wonderful  dolly  with  a  wardrobe 
which  might  have  served  as  a  model  for  any 
society  belle,  and  a  perfect  little  trunk  in 
which  to  keep  the  charming  toilets.  This 
was  Papa's  gift.  From  Mama  came  the 
entire  set  of  Miss  Alcott's  stories,  prettily 
bound,  and  ready  for  Denise's  little  library 
at  home.  Aunt  Helen  sent  a  bedroom  set 
for  the  young  lady  doll,  consisting  of  bureau, 
bed,  wash-stand,  table,  and  chairs,  and  also  a 


26  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

dear  little  sideboard  for  the  dishes  at  home. 
Then,  too,  there  were  games  and  all  sorts  of 
pretty  remembrances  from  friends  far  away 
who  never  forgot  her,  no  matter  how  great 
the  distance  that  separated  them. 

Of  course  the  dolly  had  to  be  named,  and 
Denise  usually  managed  to  think  out  some 
name  befitting  the  recipient.  In  this  case  it 
happened  to  be  Rosamund  Marie  Lombard  ■ 
and  all  agreed  that  it  suited  the  young  lady 
admirably.  Every  costume  had  to  be  tried 
on  and  admired  and  criticized  by  the  assem- 
bled family.  But  after  many  trials  the  lav- 
ender satin  ball  dress  was  pronounced  the 
"loveliest,"  and  the  young  lady  wore  it  the 
entire  day,  to  the  great  distress  of  the  other 
dolls,  who  felt  decidedly  cast  into  the  shade 
by  her  splendor. 

It  was  no  wonder  that,  with  so  much  to 
read  and  play  with,  the  days  after  Christmas 
slipped  away  so  quickly  that  February  crept 
upon  them  before  Denise  could  realize  it. 
Soon  there  were  only  weeks,  then  only  days 
to  be  counted  before  it  would  be  time  to  pack 
the  trunks  for  the  homeward  journey.  These, 
too,  soon  slipped  by,  and  the  grand  day  itself 
arrived. 


CHAPTER   IV 

HOW    DENISE    AND   NED    SET    UP    HOUSEKEEPING 

JN  the  way  home  Denise  felt  as  if  she 
must  shout  and  sing-  for  very  joy. 
It  was  simply  a  physical  impossi- 
bility to  keep  still,  when  the  prospect  of 
meeting  Ned  Toodles  was  so  near  at  hand ; 
and  her  fellow-travelers  smiled  from  sheer 
sympathy  when  they  caught  sight  of  her 
happy  face  and  heard  the  incessant  chatter  of 
the  excited  little  maid. 

As  the  train  drew  into  the  station,  Denise's 
eyes  swept  the  driveway  at  one  glance. 

"  Oh,  I  see  him  !  I  see  him  !  "  she  shouted ; 
''  John  has  brought  him  to  meet  me  !  "  and  she 
almost  plunged  headlong  upon  the  platform. 

Sure  enough,  there  was  little  Mr.  Ned,  as 
perky  as  ever,  with  both  ears  pointing  for- 
ward to  hear  her  voice,  which  he  at  once 
recognized  and  answered  with  a  loud  and 
joyous  neigh. 

27 


28  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Such  a  happy  meeting !  It  was  difficult  to 
tell  which  was  the  happier,  Denise  or  Ned, 
for  he  whinnied  and  snorted  and  "  hoo-hooed," 
and  made  all  sorts  of  remarkable  sounds.  He 
put  his  head  first  on  one  and  then  on  the 
other  side  of  Denise's  face.  He  turned  it  so 
that  the  little  white  moon  could  be  kissed,  for, 
though  probably  quite  unaware  that  any  little 
white  moon  was  there  at  all,  he  still  remem- 
bered that  it  was  just  there  she  most  often 
kissed  him,  and  he  wished  her  to  know  that  he 
had  not  forgotten  it.  It  was  plain  that  he  wished 
her  to  know  that  he  had  not  forgotten  her. 

"  Denise,  my  darling,"  said  Mama  at  last, 
"won't  you  please  get  into  the  phaeton  and 
drive  home,  or  I  fear  there  will  be  no  Ned  left 
to  carry  you." 

Little  did  Denise  dream  of  what  had  hap- 
pened during  her  absence,  or  what  a  delight- 
ful surprise  awaited  her  at  the  end  of  the 
drive. 

The  first  thing  that  caught  Denise's  eye  as 
she  drove  into  their  own  pretty  grounds  was 
a  beautiful  little  house  that  had  been  built  in 
the  yard  near  the  stable.  A  pretty  little 
French-roofed  affair  it  was,  with  a  window  on 
every  side,  both  up-stairs  and  down,  and  two 


DENISE  AND   NED   SET   UP   HOUSEKEEPING     31 

doors,  one  of  which  looked  very  like  the  front 
door  of  a  house,  and  the  other  decidedly  like 
a  stable  door. 

"  Now,  whatever  can  that  be?"  thought 
she.  "Surely  it  can't  be  for  John  and  his 
family,  for  it  is  n't  big  enough  for  them. 
Why  have  they  built  that  funny  little  house 
in  our  grounds  ?  " 

Meanwhile  her  father  and  mother  had  left 
their  carriage  and  had  walked  over  to  this 
remarkable  house ;  so  Denise  drove  over  to 
them,  for  a  branch  road  from  the  main  drive- 
way led  most  invitingly  to  it.  On  the  door 
was  a  little  brass  plate,  and  upon  it  was 
engraved : 


MISS    DENISE    LOMBARD 

AND 

MR.  NED    TOODLES. 


"  Papa,"  exclaimed  Denise,  "  you  've  had  a 
play-house  built  for  Ned  and  me  !  Oh  !  oh  ! 
oh !  was  ever  anything  so  sweet  ? "  and  she 
spun  around  in  a  perfect  ecstasy. 

"May  we  walk  into  your  parlor?"  asked 


32  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Mama.  "  Here  's  the  key."  Denise  took  it 
as  if  it  were  something  that  might  vanish  if 
roughly  handled,  and  opened  the  door. 

She  stood  transfixed  upon  the  threshold, 
too  astounded  to  go  farther.  The  front  door 
opened  into  a  little  room  fitted  up  like  a  din- 
ing-room. On  the  hard-wood  floor  lay  a 
pretty  rug,  upon  which  stood  the  dolls'  ex- 
tension-table, with  table-cloth  and  dishes  all 
laid  for  dinner.  In  one  corner  stood  Aunt 
Helen's  present,  the  little  sideboard,  which 
had  been  sent  on  with  the  other  luggage  a 
few  days  before. 

Two  chairs  stood  beside  it  —  chairs  that 
had  never  been  made  for  big  people,  al- 
though quite  strong  enough  to  hold  them, 
if  necessary. 

A  door  from  this  room  led  to  another  just 
beyond,  which  was  evidently  the  kitchen,  for 
there  stood  the  little  cooking-stove,  and  in  it 
crackled  and  snapped  a  fire  of  charcoal,  while 
a  little  coal-hod  stood  beside  it,  filled  with 
fuel,  so  as  to  keep  the  tiny  stove  always  well 
supplied. 

Poker,  shovel,  and  holder  were  handy  by, 
on  the  hooks ;  and  upon  shelves  stood  all  the 
things  needed  in  a  complete  kitchen.     The 


DENISE   AND   NED   SET   UP   HOUSEKEEPING     33 

table  stood  waiting  to  be  used,  and  even  the 
tiny  kitchen-apron  was  not  forgotten. 

As  soon  as  she  could  move,  Denise  rushed 
from  one  thing  to  another,  nearly  beside  her- 
self with  excitement,  while  the  authors  of  this 
charming  plan  stood  reaping  their  reward  for 
all  the  thought  and  care  spent  upon  the  hap- 
piness of  their  little  girl. 

"  You  precious,  precious  Moddie  !  "  cried 
Denise,  throwing  her  arms  about  her  mother's 
neck;  "you  did  all  this  for  me,  and  I  don't 
know  how  I  'm  ever  to  thank  you  hard 
enough ! " 

"  But,  darling,"  said  Mama,  as  she  un- 
wound the  little  arms,  "  it  was  not  /  alone. 
You  must  let  dear  Papa  and  Miss  Alcott 
share  the  thanks,  for  it  took  all  three  to 
bring  about  this  pleasure  for  you.  Papa 
thought  of  one  part,  I  another;  and  when  we 
read  '  Little  Men '  this  winter,  Aunt  Jo's 
kitchen  for  Daisy  and  Nan  suggested  this 
one  for  you.  And  I  want  my  little  girl  to 
use  hers  as  carefully  and  wisely  as  they  used 
theirs,  and  to  become  as  skilful  a  little  cook. 
And  Ned  Toodles  is  to  be  your  company,  for 
he  is  close  by.  Now,  dear,  open  this  door, 
and  find  out  to  what  it  leads," 


CHAPTER  V 

GENTLEMAN    NED's    QUARTERS 

,ENISE  crossed  the  kitchen,  and 
opening  the  door,  found  herself  in 
a  complete  miniature  stable.  Be- 
fore her  stood  the  phaeton,  and  also  a  new- 
wagon  of  the  sort  called  a  "depot- wagon." 
It  had  two  seats,  and  was  certainly  built  for 
service.  Just  beyond  was  a  big  closet  with 
a  glass  door,  through  which  could  be  seen 
the  harness,  the  blankets,  and  a  shining  new 
collar  to  be  used  with  the  depot-wagon. 

There,  too,  hung  the  saddle  and  bridle, 
and  a  dozen  other  things  necessary  for  a 
well-bred  and  self-respecting  pony*  At  the 
farther  side  of  the  room  were  two  dainty 
box-stalls — one,  with  two  wooden  bars  across, 
for  a  day-stall ;  the  other  with  a  door  bal- 
anced by  heavy  weights  so  that  it  would 
raise  and  lower  like  a  window-sash.  The 
bars  on  the  day-stall  were  held  in  place  by 

34 


GENTLEMAN   NED'S   QUARTERS  35 

wooden  pegs,  which  fact  led  to  serious  mis- 
chief a  few  months  later. 

The  weights  that  balanced  the  door  of  the 
night-stall  hung  down  on  the  inside,  and  the 
door  was  as  easily  raised  and  lowered  as  a 
well-hung  window.  Directly  in  the  center  a 
hole  had  been  cut  in  which  to  place  the  hand 
to  raise  the  door;  and  peeping  through  that 
hole  Denise  saw  a  big  brown  eye,  while 
through  the  door  came  the  unspellable  sound 
horses  make  when  they  welcome  you  — 
"  Hoo-hoo-hoo,  hoo-hoo-hoo  ! "  It  meant, 
as  plainly  as  words  could  have  said  it,  "I 
want  to  come  out,  for  I  don't  belong  in  this 
stall  in  the  daytime." 

While  Denise  had  been  admiring  her  play- 
house, John  had  unharnessed  Ned  and 
tucked  him  safely  away ;  for  he  was  more 
than  anxious  that  all  should  be  in  proper 
shape  to  receive  the  little  mistress's  first 
visit. 

"  Hush  ! "  whispered  Denise.  "  Let 's  make 
believe  we  don't  hear  him." 

Presently  a  great  bang,  banging  began ; 
for,  failing  to  attract  his  share  of  attention 
by  snorting,  Ned  decided  to  resort  to  more 
active  measures,  and  set  about  slamming  the 


36  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

weights  against  the  side  of  his  stall  by  poking 
them  with  his  saucy  little  nose. 

"  Mercy  me  !  "  exclaimed  Denise.  "  He 
will  bang  the  door  down !  "  and  she  flew  to 
open  it. 

,  Out  walked  the  young  scamp,  as  serenely 
as  though  slamming  weights  about  had  never 
entered  his  head. 

Stopping  for  a  moment  to  take  a  good  look 
at  his  guests,  he  decided  that  they  were  his 
friends,  that  this  was  his  own  domicile,  and 
that  the  bin  of  oats  was  his  own  property. 

Walking  over  to  it,  he  proceeded  to  get  at 
the  contents  by  calmly  raising  the  lid  with 
his  teeth,  and  then  prepared  to  eat  his  fill. 

"Well,"  said  Papa,  "you  are  a  young  fel- 
low of  resources.  When  did  you  learn  that 
trick?" 

"Faith,"  said  John,  "he  '11  just  be  afther 
doin'  that  iviry  chance  he  gets ;  and  he  niver 
has  to  learn  anything.    He  knows  it  alriddy." 

"Well,  we  can't  have  him  up  to  such 
pranks,  or  he  will  eat  till  he  kills  himself. 
John,  you  must  put  a  fastening  on  this  bin. 
And  you"  he  added,  as  he  dragged  Ned  away 
by  his  forelock,  "just  toddle  back  to  your 
stall ! " 


GENTLEMAN  NED'S  QUARTERS      37 

But  Master  Ned  had  no  notion  of  being 
shut  up  in  his  stall  again,  and  with  a  saucy 
shake  of  his  head,  and  funny  little  jumps,  he 
went  straight  over  to  the  barrel  of  soft  feed 
which  stood  beside  the  pail  of  water,  and 
lifting  off  the  lid,  plunged  his  nose  into  the 
meal,  which  flew  in  all  directions. 

"  I  declare,  he  is  worse  than  a  monkey ! " 
cried  Papa,  as  he  made  a  second  dive  for  the 
marauder.  But  Denise  caught  his  hand  and, 
between  her  shouts  of  laughter,  begged  her 
father  to  let  Ned  be,  and  see  what  next  would 
happen.  What  Ned  did  was  to  poke  and  push 
the  barrel  until  he  had  tilted  it  over  toward 
the  pail  of  water,  when  a  lot  of  the  meal  ran 
into  the  pail.  This  he  proceeded  to  swish 
about  till  he  had  a  most  delectable  mess,  and 
he  was  daubed  with  meal  from  his  nose  to  his 
ear-tips. 

It  was  funny  beyond  words  to  watch  the 
sagacious  little  pony,  for  he  seemed  to  reason 
out  exactly  how  a  thing  should  be  done,  and 
then  do  it. 

When  at  last  he  was  safely  bestowed  in 
his  day-stall,  he  promptly  turned  his  back 
upon  his  visitors,  and  acted  as  if  he  would 
have  nothing  further  to  say  to  them. 


38  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  John,"  said  Papa,  as  they  were  about  to 
leave  the  stable,  "I  think  you  had  better  have 
combination  locks  put  on  everything,  and 
then  we  shall  be  safe  —  at  least,  till  Ned 
Toodles  learns  the  combination." 

Returning  to  the  play-house,  they  mounted 
the  pretty  staircase  that  led  up  aloft,  and 
came  to  a  little  bedroom  with  all  Denises 
furniture  and  dollies.  Off  this  was  a  small 
room  in  which  were  placed  her  various  toys 
and  treasures.  A  partition  divided  this  from 
the  "up-stairs"  which  belonged  to  Ned's  side; 
and  Denise  said  it  was  a  mercy  that  he  had 
not  learned  to  climb  steps  during  their  ab- 
sence, or  he  would  dispose  of  the  provisions 
stowed  away  for  him  here. 

"  Am  I  really  to  play  here,  and  have  it  all 
for  my  very  own  ? "  asked  Denise,  as  if  it 
were  too  delightful  to  be  true,  and  must  hold 
some  conditions  to  make  it  really,  truly  hers. 

"It  is  really  your  very  own,  my  pet,"  said 
Papa.  "Play  here  all  you  like,  and  make  your 
patty-cakes  or  putty- cakes,  or  whatever  you 
call  them.  Mama  and  I  have  done  this  to 
thank  you  for  doing  so  much  for  us." 

"  Why,  what  have*  I  done  ?  "  asked  Denise 
in  surprise. 


GENTLEMAN   NED'S   QUARTERS  39 

"  You  have  always  given  us  both  that  which 
we  would  rather  receive  than  all  the  costly 
gifts  you  could  find  —  cheerful  obedience.  It 
was  hard  to  leave  the  new  pet  last  fall,  we 
know,  and  we  were  both  grieved  to  compel 
you  to  do  so ;  but  you  did  so  without  a  mur- 
mur, and  we  chose  this  way  to  prove  how  much 
we  appreciated  it." 

Denise's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  she 
clung  tightly  to  the  dear  ones  whom  she 
loved  so  tenderly,  feeling  that  her  reward 
was  more  than  she  merited. 

But  the  sunshine  soon  came  back,  and  was 
all  the  brighter  for  the  tender  little  shower. 

So  there  was  the  complete  little  play-house, 
and  next  door  was  the  tiny  stable  which  held 
the  dearest  little  playfellow  one  could  desire. 

Of  course  the  other  pets  had  to  be  visited 
before  Denise  could  tear  herself  away  long 
enough  to  go  into  the  big  house  to  lay  aside 
her  belongings. 

All  were  happy  to  welcome  her  home,  and 
each  showed  joy  in  its  own  peculiar  manner. 
Tan,  the  goat,  bleated  and  licked  her  hand. 
Sailor,  the  Newfoundland,  threatened  to  up- 
set her  at  every  step  by  rubbing  against  her 
and   getting   under   her   feet.      The  pussies 


40  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

purred  and  mewed  and  jumped  into  her  lap 
and  on  her  shoulder.  Even  the  bunnies 
seemed  to  realize  that  their  little  mistress  had 
come  home,  and  all  came  hurrying  up  to  the 
fence  when  she  called  to  them,  their  ears  flap- 
ping and  noses  wriggling  in  bunny  fashion. 

John  had  to  answer  at  least  fifty  questions 
regarding  the  condition  and  behavior  of  the 
family,  and  was  never  weary  of  extolling  their 
exemplary  conduct  —  especially  Ned's ;  for 
Toodles,  he  declared,  was  "the  best  and 
jolliest  little  baste  he  iver  had  the  curryin'  of." 

"  W'u'd  ye  belave  it? — he  l'arnt  how  to  turn 
on  the  wather-spigot  when  the  hose-poipe  is 
on  ;  and  may  I  be  bate  if  he  don't  take  the 
ind  of  the  poipe  in  his  mouth  and  dhrink  like 
a  sojer !  Come  now  till  ye  see  him " ;  and 
he  led  the  way  into  the  stable. 

After  fastening  on  the  short  hose-pipe,  he 
let  it  lie  on  the  floor,  and  then  went  over  to 
Ned's  stall  and  took  down  the  bars.  Out 
came  the  small  atom  of  horse-flesh,  and  walk- 
ing over  to  the  hydrant,  turned  the  little 
handle  that  started  the  water  running.  When 
it  came  flowing  out  at  the  end  of  the  hose 
he  deliberately  picked  up  the  spout  with  his 
teeth,   and  sucked  away   till    he   had   all  he 


GENTLEMAN  NED'S  QUARTERS      41 

wanted,  when  he  let  the  hose  fall,  and  marched 
back  to  his  stall.  Shouts  of  laughter  from  all 
greeted  this  performance,  and  Ned  seemed 
quite  gratified. 

At  last  the  excitement  subsided,  and  all 
went  indoors.  Papa  said  he  believed  the 
arrival  of  a  circus  could  not  have  caused  a 
greater  commotion ;  and  certainly  no  circus 
could  have  had  a  pony  who  could  learn  more 
cleverly  than  little  Mr.  Ned,  although  his 
training  had  but  just  begun,  as  later  events 
and  association  with  his  bright  and  original 
little  mistress  proved. 


CHAPTER  VI 

COOKING,  HOUSEKEEPING,  AND    "POKEY" 

OW  am  I  ever  to  tell  all  that  took 
place  that  spring?  I  don't  believe 
I  can  remember  one  half;  and  if  I 
could,  I  doubt  whether  the  lads  and  lassies 
who  read  this  would  think  it  true.  But  they 
must ;  for,  if  they  wish,  they  can  go  to  that 
town  and  see  the  very  house  where  it  all 
happened. 

The  old  apple-trees  still  stand  there,  and  I 
dare  say  the  blossoms  are  just  as  sweet  as 
they  were  that  spring  when  they  showered 
white  flakes  on  Denise  as  she  sat  beneath 
them  in  her  hammock,  or  climbed  up  into  the 
branches  where  John  had  nailed  seats  and 
fastened  a  box,  all  nicely  covered  with  oil- 
cloth, to  hold  her  books  and  treasures  safe 
from  wind  and  rain. 

Of  course  the  lessons  filled  the  mornings 
from  nine  to  one  o'clock  till  vacation  came  in 


COOKING,    HOUSEKEEPING,    AND    "POKEY"      43 

June;  but  the  afternoons  were  given  up  to 
Ned  and  the  "  Bird's  Nest,"  as  the  play-house 
was  named. 

Every  Saturday  morning  Mama  donned  a 
big  gingham  apron  and  went  out  to  the  Nest 
to  give  lessons  in  cooking ;  for  this  delightful 
play  had  been  planned  not  wholly  for  amuse- 
ment, but  that  Denise  might  learn  in  the 
pleasantest  way  imaginable  how  to  become  a 
skilful  little  cook.  And  years  after  she  often 
had  cause  to  thank  the  good,  thoughtful 
mother,  who  so  wisely  combined  lessons  and 
pleasure  that  one  forgot  all  about  the  labor, 
and  saw  only  the  fun.  So  bread  was  baked, 
and  biscuits  were  made  —  although  the  latter 
might  at  first  have  served  for  bullets,  had  such 
been  required.  But  that  occurred  only  when 
the  pretended  "Bridget"  forgot  so  trifling  a 
matter  as  baking-powder.  Then  there  were 
cakes  that  rose  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  oven, 
and  pies  that  smelt  so  delicious  that  they 
caused  old  Sailor  to  act  as  Denise's  devoted 
attendant  till  she  had  to  drive  him  off  by 
threats  with  the  rolling-pin. 

It  was  funny  to  see  the  serious  way  in 
which  she  went  about  her  housekeeping.  No 
staid  old  housekeeper  ever  felt  weightier  re- 


44  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

sponsibility  than  Denise  found  in  the  care  of 
this  tiny  house ;  for  besides  the  cooking- 
lessons,  there  were  sweeping-,  dusting,  bed- 
making,  and  mending  to  be  learned.  People 
who  keep  house  properly,  and  have  families 
on  their  hands,  have,  of  course,  to  know  all 
these  things. 

Funniest  of  all  were  the  dinners  given  to 
Ned,  Tan,  and  the  dogs.  After  some  delec- 
table mess  had  been  prepared,  the  table  was 
set,  and  the  viands  were  placed  thereon. 
Then  Denise  would  whistle,  and  in  would 
walk  Master  Ned,  followed  by  old  Tan. 

In  they  would  come ;  and  Denise,  leading 
first  one  and  then  the  other  to  his  place  at 
the  table,  would  admonish  them  not  to  touch 
a  thing  till  she  helped  them.  Nor  would  they, 
although  they  looked  with  longing  eyes  at 
the  cakes  and  other  tempting  things,  and 
Sailor  and  Beauty  stood  beside  her  with 
tongues  fairly  lolling  out  of  their  mouths. 

Then  Denise  would  place  something  on 
each  little  plate,  and  when  that  point  was 
reached  animal  forbearance  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  and  the  dainty  would  vanish  in  one 
gulp.  The  articles  of  diet  which  found  their 
way  down  those  animals'  throats  I  should  n't 


COOKING,    HOUSEKEEPING,    AND    "POKEY"    47 

dare  name.  But  all  was  fish  that  came  to  their 
nets,  and  if  Denise  ate  it  they  would,  providing 
it  was  a  vegetable  production.  Sailor  and 
Beauty  were  a  great  blessing,  for  what  Ned 
and  Tan  disdained,  they  regarded  as  princely 
fare,  and  Mama  used  to  say  that  they  robbed 
old  darky  Ned's  pigs. 

To  see  the  little  girl  seated  at  her  table  in 
her  tiny  dining-room,  with  a  shaggy  black 
pony  standing  at  one  end,  a  big  tan-colored 
goat  at  the  other,  and  a  dog  at  either  hand, 
made  a  picture  which  still  dwells  in  the  minds 
of  many  of  the  neighbors,  who  often  came  to 
witness  the  funny  spectacle.  To  this  day  her 
very  original  and  remarkable  performances 
are  talked  of,  and  amusing  tales  are  told  of 
this  peculiar  child  whose  parents  sanctioned 
such  extraordinary  conduct  so  long  as  the 
lessons  were  never  neglected  and  absolute 
obedience  given  them  in  return  for  any  happi- 
ness they  could  give  to  her. 

Although  utterly  unselfish,  Denise  usually 
liked  best  to  play  alone  with  her  pets.  Her 
intense  love  for  them  seemed  to  give  her  a 
keener  understanding  of  animals'  natures  than 
children  usually  feel,  and  she  and  they  had  a 
common  language. 


48  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

While  other  children  might  not  be  actually 
unkind  to  them,  they  sometimes  could  not  re- 
sist teasing  them  a  little ;  and  that  was  more 
than  Denise  could  tolerate.  In  Denise  their 
confidence  was  boundless ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  they  understood  that  they  must  obey 
her,  and  her  word  could  always  guide  or 
control  them.  So,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  young  friends  who  sometimes  came,  and 
a  little  girl  from  Brooklyn  who  visited  her 
every  summer,  she  rarely  had  other  play- 
mates than  her  four-footed  ones,  and  was  as 
happy  as  the  day  was  long,  and  sang  like  a 
lark  from  morning  till  night.  But  she  and 
the  city  friend,  who  were  probably  as  unlike 
as  two  children  well  could  be,  always  got  on 
capitally  together,  and  the  date  of  her  arrival 
was  eagerly  looked  forward  to.  The  wel- 
come was  invariably  a  warm  one,  and  the 
wildest  pranks  were  reserved  for  her  visit. 
So  no  wonder  that  Denise  should  count  the 
days  that  must  pass  before  July  could  come 
and  bring  with  it  her  beloved  "Pokey";  for 
by  this  name,  which  fitted  her  so  exactly,  the 
boon  companion  was  called.  None  could 
have  suited  her  better,  for  she  was  never 
quite    ready    for    anything;    and   breakfast, 


COOKING,    HOUSEKEEPING,    AND    "POKEY"     49 

luncheon,  and  dinner  always  found  her  just 
a  little  behind  time,  but  invariably  amiable. 

Pokey  was  a  thin  slip  of  a  girl  with  big 
blue  eyes,  light  brown  hair  which  fell  far 
below  her  waist,  and  delicate,  nervous  fea- 
tures, and  an  expression  that  appealed  to  all, 
as  it  always  seemed  asking  for  affection,  and 
rarely  failed  to  win  it,  despite  her  sensitive 
nerves  and  many  blunders.  For  Pokey  cer- 
tainly was  a  blunderer.  How  she  ever  man- 
aged to  survive  her  many  mishaps,  no  one 
ever  attempted  to  guess,  but  accepted  it  as  a 
matter  of  course  that  Pokey  would  come  out 
all  right,  somehow. 

But  July,  like  March,  came  at  last ;  and 
one  bright,  sunny  afternoon,  Denise  drove  to 
the  depot  to  welcome  her  beloved  Pokey. 
No  princess  could  have  felt  greater  pride 
than  Denise,  as  she  sat  in  her  pretty  little 
phaeton,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  train. 

Ned  was  looking  his  best,  for  John  had 
brushed  and  groomed  him  until  he  shone  like 
satin;  and  Denise  had  spent  hours  tying  pale 
blue  satin  ribbons  on  him,  till  mane,  forelock, 
headstall,  collar,  saddle,  breechen  and  whips 
fairly  bristled  blue  satin  bows,  and  his  little 
owner,  dressed  in  a  dainty  white  gown  with 


50  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

blue  sash,  and  blue  feathers  bobbing  on  a  big 
white  straw  hat,  lovingly  greeted  the  aston- 
ished Pokey  when  Papa  assisted  her  from  the 
train. 

After  a  rapturous  meeting,  Pokey  was 
comfortably  established  in  the  phaeton,  and 
Denise's  pent-up  feelings  found  vent  in  hold- 
ing forth  upon  the  innumerable  good  quali- 
ties of  Ned.  "Is  n't  he  just  all  I  wrote  about 
him,  and  lots  more  ? "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  he  is  sweet ;  but  does  he  always  go 
so  fast  and  bounce  about  so  much  ? "  asked 
Pokey,  whose  experience  with  ponies  in  gen- 
eral was  very  limited.  She  had  some  misgiv- 
ings about  the  conduct  of  this  particular  one. 

"  Bounce  !  "  exclaimed  Denise.  "  You 
don't  call  that  bouncing,  do  you  ?  Why,  he 
is  n't  going  fast  now.  Shall  I  make  him,  just 
to  show  you  how  well  he  can  trot  ?  " 

"  Mercy,  no!  "  cried  Pokey ;  for  the  ground 
seemed  fairly  to  fly  under  them,  and  she  fan- 
cied that  Ned  had  a  particularly  mischievous 
sort  of  gait. 

"Would  you  like  to  drive  him  a  little 
way  ?  "  asked  Denise,  a  moment  later.  "  He 
has  a  lovely  mouth,  and  you  can  guide  him 
with  the  slightest  touch." 


COOKING,    HOUSEKEEPING,    AND    "  POKEY "     51 

"  Drive  him ! "  cried  Pokey,  in  dismay. 
"I  would  n't  drive  him  —  not  for  —  not  for 
— well — pounds  of  candy  !  You  must  drive 
always ;  and  don't  you  ever  get  out  of  the 
carriage  and  leave  me  in  it,  or  I  shall  have  a 
fit,  right  off!" 

Denise's  laugh  rang  out  sweet  and  clear, 
and  Papa  called  back  from  the  big  carriage 
to  know  if  the  fun  had  already  commenced. 

"  Oh,  yes ;  you  will  learn  to  drive,  too. 
By  and  by  you  will  get  so  fond  of  him  that 
you  will  love  him  as  dearly  as  I  do." 

"Maybe,"  was  the  skeptical  reply;  "but  I 
don't  believe  I  '11  ever  drive  him."  And  she 
never  did,  but  was  perfectly  content  to  sit 
quietly  beside  Denise  and  enjoy  it  all  in  her 
own  subdued  way. 

These  were  blissful  days  for  Pokey,  and  all 
the  rest  of  the  year  was  as  a  blank  compared 
to  the  time  spent  in  the  country  with  the 
friends  who  always  had  such  a  warm  welcome 
for  her,  and  were  so  quick  to  appreciate  her 
truly  lovable  character  that  with  them  all  that 
was  sweetest  in  their  little  visitor  was  drawn 
forth,  as  sunshine  draws  the  perfume  from  the 
violet. 


CHAPTER  VII 


FARMER    SUTTON 


UCH  a  vacation  was  never  known 
—  never  were  skies  so  blue,  breezes 
so  balmy,  or  rainy  days  so  conspic- 
uous by  their  absence.  No  day  seemed  quite 
long  enough  to  hold  all  that  was  planned  for 
each ;  and  indeed  they  must  have  been  forty- 
eight  hours  long  to  have  enabled  the  children 
to  carry  out  all  their  wild  schemes.  Pokey 
soon  got  used  to  Ned,  even  though  she  could 
not  quite  overcome  the  idea  that  he  knew  she 
was  afraid  of  him,  whether  he  was  harnessed 
or  following  Denise  about  the  grounds,  and 
that  he  would  roll  his  eyes  at  her  as  he  never 
rolled  them  at  any  one  else.  It  really 
seemed  as  if  both  Ned  and  Tan  realized  her 
fear,  for  if  animals  ever  have  a  sense  of  fun, 
they  certainly  had.  It  was  a  common  thing 
to  see  Pokey  go  flying  across  the  lawn  with 
Tan  or  Ned,  and  often  both,  in  hot  pursuit. 

52 


FARMER   SUTTON  53 

The  poor  child  would  fly  for  her  life,  and 
they  would  chase  until  they  overtook  her, 
and  then  pass  by  like  a  whirlwind;  manes 
and  tails  straight  up  in  the  air,  and  blaating 
or  snorting  like  wild  things.  But  they  never 
offered  to  molest  her  in  any  way  and  seemed 
to  consider  her  running  a  huge  joke. 

Pokey  usually  rushed  to  an  old  apple-tree 
which  grew  in  one  corner  of  the  grounds, 
and,  once  safe  in  its  low-hanging  limbs, 
breathed  a  sigh  of  relief. 

Meanwhile,  Denise,  choking  with  laughter, 
would  call  to  her  to  stop  running,  assuring 
her  that  Ned  and  Tan  would  not  hurt  her, 
and  would  n't  run  if  she  did  n't. 

"  It 's  all  very  well  to  say  '  stop  running,'  but 
I  guess  you  'd  run  if  you  had  a  great  pair  of 
horns  flying  after  you,  and  that  little  black 
villain  who  just  knows  he  can  frighten  me 
nearly  to  death !  Why  does  n't  he  chase  other 
people,   I   'd  like  to  know  ? "  asked   Pokey. 

"  It  's  just  because  you  do  run.  He  and 
Tan  often  play  tag  with  me,  and  as  soon  as 
you  start  to  run  they  think  they  must  too  ; 
and  you  do  look  just  too  funny  for  anything, 
and  I  cant  help  laughing." 

"Well,  you  may  laugh  all  you  want  to,  but 


54  DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

I  'm  going  to  stay  up  in  this  tree,  for  I  know 
they  can't  climb  it  even  if  they  do  put  their 
feet  on  that  low  limb  down  there  and  try  to. 
I  think  it  is  fine  up  here,  and  John  was  just 
splendid  to  fix  all  these  little  seats  in  it.  I 
would  rather  stay  up  here  and  read,  than  have 
to  run  away  from  wild  animals." 

"All  right,"  said  Denise,  "you  stay  there 
and  read ;  but  don't  forget  to  lock  the  books 
in  the  box,  please,  when  you  Ve  done,  for 
John  put  it  up  there  on  purpose  for  them  and 
covered  it  all  over  with  oil- cloth  so  the  rain 
could  n't  wet  them.  Now  I  can  go  up  there 
and  read  and  not  have  to  carry  them  back  to 
the  house  when  I  have  done.  I  'd  rather  stay 
down  here  in  the  hammock,  and  then  Ned 
and  Tan  can  come  and  see  me  whenever  they 
want  to,  and  get  their  old  noses  rubbed."  And 
Denise  stretched  herself  out  for  a  midsum- 
mer day's  dream.  She  had  not  swung  long 
when  a  patter  of  feet  over  the  lawn  told  her 
that  her  mischievous  "children"  were  near  at 
hand,  but  hastily  closing  her  eyes,  she  pre- 
tended to  be  sound  asleep. 

On  they  came,  and  slowly  approaching  the 
hammock  thrust  their  warm  noses  very  gently 
into  her  hands. 


FARMER   SUTTON  55 

She  kept  perfectly  still,  and  the  little  crea- 
tures stood  motionless  beside  her,  quite  con- 
tented to  be  near  and  within  reach  of  their 
little  mistress's  stroking  fingers.  It  was  a 
pretty  picture,  and  one  which  Denise  —  who 
is  now  grown  up  and  has  a  little  Denise  of 
her  own  —  often  recalls.  She  remembers  the 
beautiful  summer  weather ;  the  pretty  house 
with  its  attractive  grounds ;  the  old  apple- 
trees  on  the  lawn,  with  the  hammock  swing- 
ing beneath  in  their  shade,  and  the  little  girl 
lying  in  it,  with  a  great  tan-colored  goat  at 
one  side,  and  a  little  black  pony  on  the  other, 
with  their  heads  in  the  hammock,  and  their 
soft  noses  within  reach  of  her  hand.  Sailor 
and  Beauty  lay  on  the  grass  close  by,  and, 
perched  in  the  tree  overhead,  the  little  friend 
in  her  bright  gingham  dress  looked  like  some 
gay  fairy.  Rather  too  literary,  however,  for 
Pokey  v/as  a  veritable  bookworm,  and  never 
happier  than  when  left  absolutely  alone  to 
read. 

Not  long  after  Pokey's  arrival,  Papa  and 
Mama  went  on  a  journey,  leaving  Denise  and 
Pokey  to  the  care  of  Aunt  Helen,  who  came 
to  stay  during  their  absence.  Denise  loved 
her  almost  as  dearly  as  she  loved  her  father 


56  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

and  mother,  and  was  always  delighted  when 
she  came,  for  Auntie  indulged  her  little  niece, 
and  was  always  ready  to  enter  into  any  plan 
for  her  pleasure.  Denise  used  to  say  she 
liked  "just  to  look  at  Aunt  Helen;  that  it 
made  her  feel  good  because  she  was  so 
pretty."  And  pretty  she  certainly  was,  with 
her  great  dark  eyes,  wavy  black  hair,  and 
pretty  white  teeth. 

Such  plans  as  were  made  when  Aunt  Helen 
was  installed  as  mistress  of  ceremonies! — tea- 
parties  in  the  Bird's  Nest;  long  drives  with 
Ned,  and  little  picnics  at  the  end ;  bathing- 
parties  in  the  river,  with  Sailor  to  act  as 
swimming-master,  and  Beauty  to  stand  on 
the  shore  barking  like  mad. 

But  the  old  saying  that  "  when  the  cat  is 
away  the  mice  will  play  "  had  still  to  be  veri- 
fied, and  these  two  children  would  have  been 
more  than  mortal,  had  they  not  entered  into 
some  mischief. 

One  morning  Aunt  Helen  announced  that 
she  must  run  into  the  city  for  a  few  hours, 
but  would  surely  return  by  the  one-thirty 
train  for  luncheon. 

"  Now,  Denise,"  said  she,  as  she  was  about 
to  start,  "be  very  careful  during  my  absence. 


FARMER  SUTTON  57 

If  you  need  anything,  go  directly  to  Mary, 
and  she  will  attend  to  you.  John  will  harness 
Ned  at  nine  o'clock,  and  you  and  Pokey  may 
take  a  nice  drive.  If  you  want  an  errand, 
you  may  go  over  the  hill  to  Farmer  Sutton's 
and  tell  him  I  am  ready  for  the  promised 
poultry.  You  will  enjoy  that,  I  know;  but 
come  directly  home." 

At  nine  o'clock  Ned  was  put  to  the  phae- 
ton, and  the  small  maids  started. 

"We  will  go  over  by  the  mountain  road, 
and  come  back  by  the  turnpike,  so  Ned  will 
have  all  the  hills  at  the  start,"  announced 
Denise  as  they  started. 

"All  right,"  said  Pokey,  who  usually  did 
say  "all  right"  to  any  proposal  of  Denise's. 

About  an  hour's  drive  brought  them  to 
Farmer  Sutton's  neat  farm.  His  big,  round 
face  beamed  with  pleasure  when  he  saw  them 
drive  into  the  barn-yard;  for  Denise  was  a 
prime  favorite  of  his,  and  the  kind  man  was 
never  so  happy  as  when  loading  her  phaeton 
with  all  the  good  things  his  farm  would  pro- 
duce. So  he  hastened  to  welcome  her  and  to 
bring  forth  his  possessions,  of  which  there  was 
a  bountiful  supply ;  for  he  had  a  fine  farm  and 
took  unusually  good   care  of  it.     Soon  she 


58  DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

looked  like  a  vender  of  fruits ;  and  as  for  Ned, 
he  had  eaten  apples  till  he  simply  could  hold 
no  more. 

Then  the  sleek  cows  had  to  be  visited,  the 
funny  little  pigs  to  be  fed,  and  all  the  live 
stock  inspected  and  talked  about.  All  this, 
of  course,  took  time ;  and  just  as  Denise  was 
beginning  to  think  that  Ned's  nose  should  be 
turned  homeward,  Farmer  Sutton  said:  "Now, 
you  young  ones,  come  right  along  o'  me,  an' 
let  Mrs.  Sutton  fetch  up  some  cold  milk  out  'n 
the  spring  for  ye.  It  's  proper  good  milk,  I 
tell  ye,  and  ye  '11  jist  enj'y  drinkin'  on  it " ;  and 
he  led  the  way  to  the  dairy. 

Mrs.  Sutton,  a  stout,  pleasant  woman, 
whose  chief  happiness  lay  in  ministering  to 
others'  comforts,  bustled  about  and  soon  had 
two  glasses  of  icy  cold  milk  on  her  dairy 
table. 

"  Now,  jist  ye  wait  one  little  minute, 
dearies,  whilst  I  fly  into  the  butt'ry  and  git  a 
bite  for  ye,  'cause  ye  must  be  starvin'  after 
yer  drive  in  the  fresh  air."  And  away  she 
hurried,  to  return  with  a  big  blue  dish  piled 
high  with  cookies,  crullers,  doughnuts,  and 
great  slices  of  pound-cake. 

"Oh,    Mrs.    Sutton,"   cried    Denise,    "we 


FARMER   SUTTON  59 

can't  eat  half  that.  We  should  n'l  be  able 
to  stir  one  step  if  we  did ! " 

"  Never  ye  mind  whether  ye  eat  it  all  or 
not.  That  don't  matter  a  mite.  Ye  jist  tuck 
it  away  in  yer  little  go-cart  out  yander,  and 
trot  it  along  home.  Children  is  allers  hungry, 
'cordin'  to  my  experience." 

The  children  labored  earnestly  to  make 
Ned's  homeward  load  lighter,  and  certainly 
succeeded  to  an  amazing  degree,  if  stowing  a 
large  quantity  in  a  small  space  could  help 
matters.  At  any  rate,  the  cake-plate  pre- 
sented a  far  less  generous  appearance  half  an 
hour  later. 

"  Now  come  along  o'  me,  and  let  me  show 
ye  the  cunningest  live  critter  ye  ever  clapped 
yer  brown  and  blue  eyes  on,"  said  their  hos- 
tess, when  she  felt  convinced  that  they  really 
could  not  eat  any  more.  She  led  the  way 
to  the  wash-house  yard,  and  as  soon  as  she 
entered  it  she  was  greeted  by  a  funny  little 
bleating. 

"Yes,  yes,  Molly,  I  be  a-comin',"  said  she 
to  a  tiny  lamb  which  was  tied  to  a  little  tree 
in  the  middle  of  the  yard. 

Denise  and  Pokey  ran  across  the  grass  to 
see  the  little  snowball,  for  certainly  "Molly" 


60  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

looked  like  nothing  else.  She  was  not  more 
than  five  weeks  old,  and  as  happy  and  frisky 
as  a  kitten.  It  was  funny  to  see  her  snuggle 
up  to  Mrs.  Sutton,  whom  she  seemed  to  con- 
sider as  her  mother.  And,  sure  enough,  the 
farmer's  wife  was  the  only  mother  the  poor 
little  thing  had  ever  known,  her  own  having 
been  killed  when  she  was  only  a  few  days 
old. 

Mrs.  Sutton  produced  a  bottle  of  milk  from 
her  pocket,  and  little  Miss  Molly  took  her 
dinner  as  nicely  as  a  baby  might  have  done. 

"Now,  what  do  ye  think  o'  that?  Ain't 
it  a  funny  baby  ?  Why,  it 's  almost  as  much 
care  as  a  baby ;  but  it  was  so  little  and  help- 
less that  I  jist  could  n't  let  it  die ;  and  it  took 
to  its  meals  as  nat'ral  as  ye  please.  How  do 
ye  think  I  keep  her  so  clean  ?  I  wash  her 
every  Monday,  and  stand  her  in  the  tin  oven 
ter  dry.  Jist  poke  her  in  head  foremost,  and 
let  her  stand  and  warm  till  her  wool  is  dry  as 
a  bone.  She  ain't  got  sense  enough  to  turn 
round  and  come  out,  and  we  don't  never  let  it 
get  too  warm.  She  follers  me  everywhere, 
and  if  I  did  n't  keep  her  tied  up  she  would  git 
into  mischief  every  minute." 

Denise  and  Pokey  petted  and  fondled  the 


DEXISE    AXD    POKEY    PETTED    THE   LITTLE    LAMB. 


FARMER   SUTTON  63 

pretty  little  thing,  and  it  seemed  to  see  that 
they  would  not  harm  it;  for  it  got  into 
Pokey's  lap  as  she  sat  on  the  grass  beside  it, 
and  made  itself  comfortable  as  for  a  morning 
nap. 

At  last  they  realized  that  time  was  slipping 
by,  and  putting  Molly  on  the  grass,  they  bade 
Mrs.  Sutton  good-by. 

But  after  their  bountiful  luncheon  it  was 
small  wonder  that  their  appetites  failed  to  ad- 
monish them  that  noon  was  upon  them,  and 
they  would  barely  have  time  to  reach  home 
before  Aunt  Helen's  train  was  due. 


CHAPTER  VIII 


AN    INVITING    LANE 


'ET  *S  go  down  this  lane  a  little 
way,"  said  Denise,  when  they  were 
about  half-way  home.  "  I  Ve  never 
been  down  it,  and  it  always  looks  so  inviting 
that  I  've  often  wanted  to  go." 

"Do  you  think  there  will  be  time?"  asked 
Pokey.  "  You  know  Aunt  Helen  said  we 
must  be  back  by  one  o'clock." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  guess  so.  Let  's  see  what 
time  it  is,  anyway.  Why,  where  is  my 
watch  ? "  was  the  startled  exclamation. 

"You  did  n't  put  it  on.  I  saw  it  on  the 
bureau  when  I  went  back  to  get  my  pocket- 
handkerchief,  just  before  we  started." 

"Oh,  me!  Now  we  are  in  a  fix.  But, 
anyway,  I  guess  it  can't  be  later  than  twelve 
o'clock,  and  we  are  more  than  half-way  home 
now."  And  Denise  turned  Ned's  head  down 
the  lane,  much  to  that  wise  beast's  disgust, 

64 


AN   INVITING    LANE  65 

for  he  had  not  found  apples  particularly  sus- 
taining, and  his  craving  for  something  more 
substantial  hinted  the  time  of  day  more  cor- 
rectly than  Denise's  guessing. 

By  way  of  manifesting  his  disapproval,  he 
wriggled  from  one  side  of  the  lane  to  the 
other,  leaving  a  perfect  snake-track  behind 
him. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  anything  act  as  he 
does?"  demanded  Denise.  "He  is  too  ex- 
asperating to  be  endured.  Ned  Toodles, 
behave  yourself!"  And  the  whip  was  cracked 
menacingly. 

A  fig  cared  Ned  for  the  whip.  It  never 
had  caused  him  much  fear,  and  he  did  n't 
believe  it  was  going  to  do  any  great  amount 
of  harm  now.  So,  giving  two  or  three  tanta- 
lizing jumps  of  defiance,  he  rushed  into  a 
barn-yard  in  which  the  lane  suddenly  termi- 
nated. Not  a  particularly  attractive  barn-yard 
was  this,  either,  for  it  was  littered  with  all 
sorts  of  farm  paraphernalia,  and  simply  alive 
with  cows,  chickens,  ducks,  dogs,  and  young- 
sters. The  latter  at  once  swarmed  around 
the  pony  and  carriage,  and  began  to  ask 
questions  at  the  rate  of  forty  a  minute. 
Denise  began  to  feel  that  following  an  invit- 


66  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

ing  lane  was  perhaps  not  the  wisest  thing  she 
had  ever  done,  and  to  wish  most  heartily  that 
she  had  kept  to  the  homeward  road. 

The  eldest  of  the  tribe,  a  girl  of  about 
eleven  years,  elected  herself  spokeswoman, 
and  began  to  catechize  the  new  arrivals  most 
freely. 

"  Hullo,  Sis  !     Is  this  yer  pony  yours?" 

"Yes." 

"Where  did  yer  git  it?" 

"Papa  gave  him  to  me." 

"Where  did  he  git  him?  What  did  he 
have  to  pay  fer  it?  Lots  er  cash,  I  '11 
bet." 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  cost,"  said  poor  De- 
nise,  trying  to  find  some  way  out  of  the  scrape 
and  the  barn-yard.  Turning  Ned's  head,  she 
made  the  attempt,  but  "Griselda  Goose"  was 
not  to  be  done  out  of  her  rare  treat  so  soon. 

"  Here,  hold  on  a  minute.  I  don't  want 
yer  ter  go  yet,"  said  she,  holding  Ned  by  the 
bridle,  while  brothers  and  sisters  crowded  al- 
most into  the  carriage,  one  taking  out  the 
pretty  whip,  another  tugging  at  the  linen  lap- 
cover,  another  unrolling  the  curtain  behind — 
in  short,  swarming  over  the  whole  thing  like 
ants. 


AN    INVITING    LANE  67 

"  Say,  what 's  yer  name,  anyway,  and  where 
do  yer  live  ? " 

"  My,  don't  I  wish  I  had  a  little  horse  like 
that !  Are  yer  rich  ?  Guess  yer  must  be,  ter 
have  such  things." 

Meanwhile,  unhappy  Pokey  was  growing 
more  and  more  miserable,  and  at  last  turned 
to  Denise  and  said  desperately  : 

"  Do  for  mercy  s  sake  try  to  get  away;  they 
are  just  awful,  and  besides,  I  know  we  shall  be 
late ! " 

"  You  must  let  me  go,"  said  the  distracted 
Denise.     "  We  shall  be  late  for  luncheon." 

"What  's  that?  "  asked  her  tormentor. 

"  What  is  what  f  " 

"Why,  that  thing  yer  just  said  —  ludgen. 
Is  it  a  train  ? " 

"  No,  dinner"  said  Denise,  trying  politely 
to  hide  her  laughter. 

"Oh,  is  that  what  yer  call  it?  Yes,  I 
reckon  it  is  most  dinner-time,  for  Ma  she 
said  we  must  all  set  to  and  git  ours  down 
right  smart,  for  she  had  to  go  over  to  see 
Uncle  Josh  this  afternoon.  He  's  been  awful 
sick.  See  that  barn  down  yander?  Well, 
he  's  there.  He  's  jist  gittin'  over  smallpox. 
Ever  had  it  ? " 


68  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

But  Denise  did  not  wait  to  inform  her. 
With  a  slash  of  her  whip  which  took  Ned  off 
all  four  feet  and  scattered  the  youngsters  in 
every  direction,  she  started  out  of  that  barn- 
>yard  at  a  pace  which  defied  pursuit,  and 
reached  the  main  road  in  much  less  time  than 
it  had  taken  her  to  reach  the  farm. 

But  her  troubles  were  not  yet  ended,  for 
about  half  a  mile  from  home  she  was  met 
by  John  mounted  on  Flash,  he  having  been 
despatched  by  Aunt  Helen,  who  had  arrived 
by  the  one-thirty  train  and  was  nearly  dis- 
tracted when  she  found  that  the  children  had 
not  yet  returned. 

"  Faith,  wheriver  have  yez  been  to  at  all  ?  " 
demanded  he,  lapsing  into  his  richest  brogue 
in  his  excitement.  "  It 's  scared  half  dead  yer 
aunt  is  wid  the  froight  ye  've  put  her  in." 

"  Oh,  John,"  cried  Denise,  half  in  tears, 
"  don't  say  one  word,  for  we  've  had  an  awful 
experience,  and  been  near  a  man  who  has 
smallpox." 

"  Presarve  us !  Wheriver  could  ye  have 
been  at  all?" 

But  Denise  offered  no  explanation,  and 
hurried  home  at  a  pace  which  would  have 
scandalized  her  had   she   been  less  excited. 


AN   INVITING    LANE  69 

Aunt  Helen's  feelings  can  be  more  readily 
imagined  than  described,  and  no  time  was 
lost  in  sending  John  off  for  Dr.  Swift.  He 
soon  calmed  her  fears,  by  assuring  her  that 
there  could  be  no  possible  danger  for  the 
children,  as  both  had  been  vaccinated  that 
spring,  and  had  such  not  been  the  case,  no 
harm  would  have  come  of  it,  as  the  man  was 
quite  recovered.  But  the  scare  had  done 
both  the  girls  good,  he  said ;  and  the  kind, 
jolly  doctor  threw  back  his  head  and  laughed 
heartily. 

But  never  again  did  Denise  explore  invit- 
ing lanes.  Public  roads  and  broad  highways 
were  quite  to  her  taste  ever  after.  Nor  did 
she  leave  her  watch  at  home  when  going  on 
a  trip  upon  which  it  was  necessary  to  know 
the  difference  between  half-past  twelve  and 
half-past  two  o'clock,  although  it  is  true  that 
she  soon  after  got  into  an  epidemic  of  scrapes 
which  cast  that  one  into  the  shade. 


CHAPTER  IX 

HOUSE-CLEANING    AND    MISCHIEF 

[HINGS  ran  very  smoothly  for  some 
time  after  Demise's  exploring  expe- 
dition, and  the  time  for  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lombard's  return  was  near  at  hand. 

Aunt  Helen  began  to  congratulate  herself 
that  a  delightfully  clear  record  could  be  re- 
ported when  the  commanders-in-chief  should 
once  more  assume  control,  for,  to  tell  the 
truth,  she  never  felt  quite  certain  as  to  what 
might  turn  up  next,  and  much  preferred 
visiting  when  the  responsibility  for  the  little 
girls  rested  with  them  instead  of  herself. 

"  I  am  so  glad,"  said  she  to  the  children,  as 
they  sat  at  breakfast  one  morning,  "  that  only 
one  little  scrape  has  to  be  reported  when 
Papa  and  Mama  come.  It  's  such  a  comfort 
to  have  had  you  behave  so  well,  dearies,  and 
I  am  going  to  put  an  extra  lump  of  sugar  in 
each   cup  just  by  way  of  reward  " ;   and  she 

7o 


HOUSE-CLEANING   AND   MISCHIEF  71 

laughingly  selected  the  biggest  two  she  could 
find  in  the  sugar-basin. 

"  Here  comes  John  with  the  mail  now ! " 
cried  Denise.  "  Maybe  there  is  a  letter  from 
Papa  to  tell  us  when  they  are  coming" ;  and 
she  flew  out  of  the  dining-room  to  get  the 
letters.  Whisking  back  again,  she  thrust  the 
mail-bag  into  her  aunt's  hands,  saying  excit- 
edly :  "  Open  it  quickly,  Auntie,  please  do." 

"  Yes,  here  is  one  from  Papa,  and  now  let's 
see  what  he  has  to  tell  us."  After  reading  a 
few  minutes,  she  said  in  a  surprised  tone : 

''Why,  he  will  be  home  to-night  by  the 
six-o'clock  -express,  and  will  bring  Captain 
Hamilton  with  him  for  a  little  visit." 

"  Won't  Mama  come  too  ?  "  asked  Denise, 
in  a  disappointed  tone. 

"  No ;  she  will  stay  with  Grandma  a  week, 
and  when  she  returns  will  bring  her  too." 

"  Oh,  goody,  goody !  Won't  that  be  just 
splendid  !     Will  she  stay  long  ?  " 

"Yes,  a  long  time,  I  think  —  perhaps  all 
winter.  But  now  we  must  set  about  prepar- 
ing for  our  visitors,  and  have  everything  put 
in  spandy  order." 

Little  did  poor  Auntie  dream  how  much 
"putting  in  order"  she  was  destined  to  do 


72  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

before  sunset,  or  how  easy  it  is  to  count  one's 
chicks  before  they  are  out  of  the  shell. 

Turned  loose  for  the  morning,  Pokey  and 
Denise  made  straight  for  the  Bird's  Nest,  and 
such  a  scouring  and  cleaning  as  was  gone 
through  with  !  Of  course,  upon  so  important 
an  occasion,  it  had  to  be  well  swept  and 
dusted  from  garret  to  ground  floor.  It  was 
a  wonder  that  the  rugs  had  any  fringe  left  on 
them,  for  Denise  banged  them  so  energetically 
that  they  flapped  aboutlike  witches  on  abroom- 
handle,  and  her  dusting-cap  flew  wildly  off, 
and  roosted  on  a  neighboring  tree. 

After  the  house  was  in  order,  the  dolls  had 
to  be  dressed,  and  I  grieve  to  relate  that  in 
being  carried  from  the  dining-room,  where 
they  had  sat  around  the  table  since  the  night 
before,  to  the  bedroom  above,  poor  "Ange- 
nora  Manuella"  slipped  from  Pokey's  arms  and 
rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  cracking  her 
crown  and  shattering  an  arm. 

"Oh,  you  precious,  precious  child!"  shrieked 
her  mother.  "  I  know  you  are  killed !  Pokey, 
fly  for  Dr.  Glue  this  instant,  and  fetch  him  with 
you  at  once,  while  I  heat  some  water.  You 
know  he  always  wants  it  first  thing." 

Pokey  rushed  off  to  the  house  for  the  bottle 


HOUSE-CLEANING   AND   MISCHIEF  75 

of  glue  which  represented  the  doctor,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  poor  Angenora  Manuella  was 
undergoing  a  surgical  operation. 

The  fortitude  the  dear  child  displayed  was 
really  beautiful  to  witness  in  one  so  delicately 
organized,  for  she  never  uttered  a  sound,  and 
fell  asleep  the  instant  she  was  placed  in  her 
bed. 

But  at  length  the  Nest  was  all  in  apple- 
pie  order,  and  Pokey  stood  upon  the  threshold 
and  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief. 

"  I  used  to  think  that  I  just  hated  to  do  any 
housework  or  to  wash  dishes,"  she  observed 
soberly;  "but  I  just  believe  I  sha'n't  ever  mind 
it  again.  I  '11  shut  my  eyes  and  make  believe 
I  'm  out  here  with  you,  and  then  it  will  all  be 
fun.  Don't  let 's  touch  a  pin  on  that  cushion, 
for  they  are  all  put  in  in  little  squares,  and  I 
believe  it  took  me  over  an  hour  to  do  it." 

"  Now  let 's  go  look  after  Ned,"  cried  Ned's 
energetic  mistress.  "What  color  ribbon  would 
you  tie  on  the  harness  to-day?" 

"  Why  don't  you  tie  rose  color  ?  You  know 
that  stands  for  happiness,  and  I  guess  you  are 
glad  that  Mr.  Papa  is  coming  home,  are  n't 
you?" 

"Just  the  thing.     How  do  you  ever  get  to 


76  DENISE   AND  NED  TOODLES 

know  all  those  things,  Pokey?"  asked  De- 
nise,  quite  impressed  with  Pokey's  deep 
learning. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  guess  I  read  them 
somewhere,  and  they  sort  of  stick  in  some 
part  of  my  brain  till  something  makes  one 
hop  out." 

So  fully  another  hour  was  passed  in  brush- 
ing Ned's  mane  and  braiding  into  it  a  long 
rose-colored  ribbon.  John  had  taught  De- 
nise  how  to  braid  it  in  one  long  braid,  which 
ran  the  whole  length  of  his  neck,  and  ended 
in  a  little  pigtail  at  the  withers. 

Then  the  forelock  had  to  be  parted  and 
braided  into  two  braids  decked  with  ribbons, 
and  as  a  suitable  conclusion  to  his  personal 
adornment,  his  tail  was  braided  into  three 
braids  and  finally  looped  up  with  a  big  bow 
of  ribbon. 

"Faith,  he  looks  like  a  monkey!"  said 
John,  laughing. 

"No,  John,  he  does  n't,  either  —  do  you, 
dear?  It  's  a  hot  day,  and  he  is  much  more 
comfortable  without  all  that  hair  flying  about, 
I  know." 

"  I  hope  he  won't  go  and  get  all  mussed  up," 
said  Pokey,  as  she  surveyed  him  approvingly. 


HOUSE-CLEANING   AND   MISCHIEF  77 

"  He  is  so  black  and  shiny  that  those  ribbons 
look  just  too  sweet  on  him." 

"Ned  Tpodles,"  said  Denise,  admonish- 
ingly,  as  she  turned  him  into  his  day-stall 
and  fastened  the  bars,  "don't  you  go  scrooch- 
ing  up  against  the  sides  of  your  stall  and 
mussing  even  one  end  of  a  ribbon,  or  you 
sha'n't  have  any  sugar  for  a  week  ! " 

Then  the  harness  was  decked,  and  when  a 
bow  was  tied  on  the  whip  the  effect  was  pro- 
nounced superb. 

Noon  hour  struck  before  all  was  finished, 
and  Auntia,  coming  out  to  summon  them  to 
lunch,  blessed  the  good  fairy  who  had  put  the 
idea  of  the  Bird's  Nest  into  Papa's  head,  as  it 
kept  the  children  happy  and  out  of  the  way 
of  grown-up  folk  who  had  their  hands  full. 

"John,"  said  she,  giving  him  a  letter,  "be- 
fore you  return  from  your  dinner  to-day,  I 
wish  you  would  mail  this  letter  for  me.  I 
want  it  to  go  out  by  the  two-o'clock  mail, 
without  fail,  so  you  had  better  go  home  at 
once." 

"Very  good,  miss.  I  '11  be  goin'  roight  off. 
Shall  I  close  Ned's  stable  door,  or  will  Miss 
Denise  do  it  whan  she  goes  in  ? " 

"  I  '11  shut  it  when  I  go,"  answered  Denise. 


78  DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

"All  roight,  thin;  but  don't  be  afther  for- 
gittin'  it,  or  there  's  no  tellin'  what  that  young 
villain  will  be  doin'  at  all ! " 

"  Don't  you  call  Ned  a  villain,  John.  He 
would  n't  do  anything  bad  for  all  the  oats  in 
the  bin." 

"  Now,  don't  you  be  too  sure  of  that,  thin. 
I  'd  not  thrust  him  out  of  me  soight."  And 
with  a  good-natured  laugh  John  left  the 
grounds. 

"  Come  in  at  once,  children,"  said  Auntie, 
as  she  returned  to  the  house. 

"  We  're  coming  this  very  minute,  for  we  're 
half  starved." 

"  Now,  my  little  maids,"  said  Auntie,  when 
the  famished  children  were  sustained  by  a 
generous  supply  of  luncheon,  "you  may  amuse 
yourselves  in  any  quiet  way  you  choose,  till 
it  is  three  o'clock ;  and  then  come  to  me  for 
your  baths,  and  I  '11  make  you  both  as  sweet 
as  roses  to  meet  Papa  and  Captain  Hamilton." 

Away  went  the  children,  and,  taking  Auntie 
at  her  word,  chose  a  charming  "  quiet  way  "  to 
amuse  themselves  on  a  hot  summer  afternoon. 

"  Let  's  make  some  taffy,"  said  Denise. 
"  I  have  plenty  of  molasses  in  the  kitchen, 
and  we  can  boil  it  in  no  time." 


HOUSE-CLEANING    AND   MISCHIEF  79 

"  It  will  never  get  hard  on  such  a  hot  day 
as  this  is,"  answered  Pokey. 

"Why,  yes,  it  will,  if  we  put  it  in  cook's  re- 
frigerator," insisted  Denise. 

"  I  don't  believe  it,  for  it  's  awful  stuff  in 
summer-time,"  said  skeptical  Pokey. 

"  Well,  we  '11  try,  anyway " ;  and  Denise 
soon  had  a  fire  sputtering  in  the  stove  and  a 
pail  of  molasses  bubbling  on  top. 

"What  can  be  the  matter  with  Ned  ? "  she 
exclaimed,  when  the  smell  of  the  boiling  candy 
had  filled ,  the  house  and  adjoining  stable. 
"  He  is  stamping  about  at  a  great  rate ;  I 
just  believe  he  smells  this  candy." 

"  I  dare  say ;  he  loves  sweet  things  like  a 
little  bear,"  said  Pokey. 

"  Do  go  into  the  stable  and  see  what  he  's 
up  to,"  begged  Denise.  "  I  can't  leave  this 
candy  now,  or  it  will  burn." 

"  Indeed  I  shan't,"  affirmed  Pokey.  "  He 'd 
roll  his  eyes  and  bounce  at  me." 

"  Now,  how  could  he  bounce  at  you,  when 
he  is  fast  in  his  stall  ? "  demanded  Denise. 

"I  don't  believe  he  is  fast;  he  could  n't 
walk  round  so  much  if  he  was." 

"Why,  how  in  the  world  could  he  get  out? 
His  bars  are  up,  and  I  don't  believe  even  he  is 


80  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

wise  enough  to  pull  the  pegs  out.  You  stir  this 
candy,  and  I  '11  go  see,  if  you  are  afraid  to." 

And  Denise  handed  over  a  very  sticky 
spoon  to  the  willing  Pokey  and  started  for 
the  door  communicating  with  the  stable. 
She  opened  it  and  gave  a  scream,  for  there 
in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  and  in  all  his 
goodly  array  of  rosy  ribbons,  stood  Master 
Ned,  looking  at  her  in  the  most  tantalizing 
way,  as  though  to  say :  "  Can't  I  pull  out  the 
pegs  with  my  teeth,  and  can't  I  jump  over 
the  lower  bar,  and  cant  I  fly  through  this 
door  which  you  forgot  to  shut  after  John 
told  you  to  ?  "  and  with  a  rush  and  a  clatter  he 
tore  out  of  the  stable  and  over  the  lawn, 
flinging  up  his  heels  and  tossing  his  head 
and  making  straight  for  the  big  gate,  which 
unfortunately  stood  wide  open. 

Denise  stood  rooted  to  the  spot  for  an  in- 
stant, and  then  screaming,  "  Pokey,  Pokey, 
Ned  has  run  away ! "  she  tore  out  of  the 
stable  and  made  after  him  as  though  she  had 
wings  to  her  feet. 

Aunt  Helen  heard  the  uproar  and  rushed 
out  just  in  time  to  witness  Ned's  final  kick-up 
as  he  flew  up  the  road  with  Denise  in  hot 
pursuit. 


CHAPTER  X 

AN    EPIDEMIC    OF    MISCHIEF 

OW  we  are  in  a  fix!"  Aunt  Helen 
exclaimed  to  Pokey,  who  had  man- 
aged to  get  as  far  as  the  piazza,  but 
had  forgotten  to  lay  down  the  sticky  spoon, 
to  which  she  still  clung,  as  if  its  tenacious  prop- 
erties might  have  power  to  hold  Ned,  could 
she  but  lay  it  upon  him.  "  John  a  mile  away, 
and  Ned  in  a  fair  way  to  be  ten  if  he  goes  on 
at  the  rate  he  has  started,  and  with  no  halter 
on  to  fetch  him  back  with  when  he  is  caught !  " 
Meanwhile  Ned  and  Denise  tore  on ;  he 
glorying  in  his  freedom,  and  she  vainly  trying 
to  overtake  him.  But  as  though  the  very 
spirit  of  mischief  had  entered  into  him,  he 
made  a  sudden  turn  and  headed  straight  for 
the  railway  station.  Denise  was  just  near 
enough  to  see  him  dash  upon  the  platform, 
rush  across  it  and  into  the  station  as  though 
carrying  a  danger-signal    to  the  astonished 

81 


82  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

ticket-agent,  who  sat  in  his  little  office,  into 
which  Ned  tore  full  tilt,  scaring  the  good  man 
nearly  to  death. 

But  Master  Ned  found  the  place  very 
like  an  eel-pot, — much  easier  to  get  into  than 
out  of, — and  Mr.  Smith  was  a  man  of  prompt 
action,  as  one  who  might  have  to  deal  with 
runaway  engines,  whether  four-footed  or  four- 
wheeled,  is  obliged  to  be.  So  promptly  clos- 
ing his  office  door,  he  had  the  beribboned 
runaway  a  fast  prisoner. 

A  moment  later  Denise,  panting  and  puffing 
like  a  small  steam-engine,  and  with  perspira- 
tion pouring  down  her  face,  rushed  into  the 
office;  whereupon  Mr.  Smith  sat  down  to 
laugh,  and  Denise,  with  what  breath  was  left 
her  for  laughter,  followed  his  example. 

"Oh  "  she  panted,  "did  you  ^wr  know  such 
a  bad  little  thing  as  he  is,  to  lead  me  such  a 
chase?  What  do  you  mean,"  she  demanded, 
shaking  Ned  by  his  forelock  braids,  "by  scar- 
ing me  so?  John  said  you  were  a  little  villain, 
and  I  think  you  just  are." 

"  How  will  you  get  him  home,  Miss  De- 
nise?" asked  Mr.  Smith.  "Shall  I  send  one 
of  the  men  with  you  ?  " 

"No,  indeed,  thank  you.     I  don't  need  any 


AN   EPIDEMIC   OF   MISCHIEF  83 

help.  I  '11  get  him  home,"  And,  springing 
up,  she  caught  Ned  by  his  braids,  saying, 
"  Come  home  this  minute,"  and,  tugging  him 
along,  she  got  him  out  of  the  office  and  started 
for  home,  with  the  little  scamp  walking  as  de- 
murely beside  her  as  though  he  had  never 
done  anything  mischievous  in  his  life. 

That  was  the  funniest  bit  of  Ned's  make-up. 
No  matter  how  mischievous  and  full  of  pranks 
he  might  be  at  one  moment,  his  weather  would 
straightway  change,  and  he  would  be  as  meek 
as  possible,  or  else  look  at  you  in  a  surprised 
way,  as  if  to  say:  "Why,  you  must  be  mis- 
taken.    /  did  n't  do  anything." 

Aunt  Helen  and  Pokey  met  them  at  the 
gate,  and  the  former  said:  "When  you  have 
put  Ned  into  his  stall  and  shut  the  stable  door, 
you  had  better  come  to  me  for  your  bath,  for 
I  fancy  you  feel  the  need  of  it." 

Denise  only  waited  to  push  Ned  in  his 
night-stall  by  way  of  punishment,  and  bang 
down  the  door,  when  she  rushed  into  the  play- 
house for  the  precious  candy,  which  Pokey  had 
poured  into  a  pan.  Running  into  the  kitchen 
with  it,  she  put  it  into  cook's  refrigerator,  and 
then  went  up-stairs  to  Aunt  Helen. 

"  Children,"  said  Aunt  Helen  an  hour  later, 


84  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

when  soap,  water,  and  clean  clothes  had  meta- 
morphosed the  two  scapegraces  into  two 
dainty  little  maids  in  white  frocks,  "  no  more 
mishaps  to-day,  I  beg  of  you.  Go  out  and 
drive  quietly  about  in  the  phaeton  till  train- 
time,  and  then  let  Papa  find  you  spandy 
nice." 

"  We  will,  Auntie  ;  we  truly  will "  ;  and  De- 
nise  started  down-stairs. 

Pokey  lingered  to  ask,  "  Aunt  Helen,  please 
let  me  fill  the  tub  again.  I  do  love  to  see 
the  water  pour  in." 

"  Yes,  you  may  fill  it,  but  be  careful  not  to 
get  splashed,"  answered  Aunt  Helen,  whose 
soul  was  filled  with  apprehension  for  unlucky 
Pokey. 

"  I  '11  be  careful,"  was  the  reply,  as  she 
seated  herself  on  the  edge  of  the  tub,  and 
started  both  faucets. 

Meanwhile  Denise  was  waiting  in  the  hall 
below  and  calling  to  Pokey  to  hurry  up. 

"  I  'm  coming  in  just  half  a  minute.  Just 
wait  till  the  tub  gets  full." 

"  There  !  "  she  exclaimed  ;  "  it  's  just  up  to 
that  little  ring,  and  now  I  'm  going  —  oh  !  " — 
and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  which 
ended  in  a  prolonged  howl,  Pokey  lost  her 


AN   EPIDEMIC   OF   MISCHIEF  85 

balance  and  slid  backward  into  the  tub  — 
white  frock,  pink  sash,  and  all. 

For  an  instant  Aunt  Helen  stood  speech- 
less, too  startled  to  know  whether  to  laugh  or 
scold,  as  the  unfortunate  child  struggled  to 
regain  her  feet. 

"  Elizabeth  Delano  !  "  she  cried,  as  she 
stood  the  dripping  child  on  the  tiled  floor, 
where  the  puddles  could  form  without  harm- 
ing anything.  "  I  certainly  feel  as  though  I 
could  shake  you  thoroughly,  for  the  limit  of 
my  patience  is  reached,  I  believe ! " 

11  Oh  !  —  oh  !  —  oh  !  "  gasped  Pokey,  nearly 
in  tears.  "I  'm  so  sorry,  and  so  wet.  I 
did  n't  mean  to  slip   so  far  back." 

"  I  believe  you  ;  and  now  let  me  get  you 
into  dry  clothes  just  as  quickly  as  possible." 

At  the  howl  of  anguish  Denise  had  rushed 
up-stairs  to  find  Pokey  decidedly  moist,  for 
tears  fell  from  her  eyes  and  water  dripped 
from  her  skirts,  as  Aunt  Helen  hastened  to 
get  her  out  of  her  wet  garments.  Denise 
took  in  the  situation  in  an  instant,  and  the 
bubbling  laugh  which  was  never  far  below 
the  surface  came  rippling  out. 

"  Oh,  Auntie  !  "  she  cried.  "  Does  n't  she 
look  just   like    a   drowned    rat?    Don't   cry, 


86  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Pokey  ;  you  will  soon  be  all  dry,  and  Auntie 
won't  scold  very  hard,  will  you,  Auntie  ? 
'Cause  she  did  n't  mean  to." 

"  I  would  n't  mind  the  scolding,"  said  Pokey, 
"'cause  I  half  believe  I  ought  to  get  one,  but 
I  Ve  just  gone  and  spoiled  all  the  water  for 
Aunt  Helen's  bath."  Which  remark  was  so 
perfectly  characteristic  of  Pokey. 

Another  half-hour  and  another  start.  This 
time  Auntie  gave  no  admonitions,  feeling, 
perhaps,  that  it  would  be  best  to  let  Fate 
direct  things  herself.  Surely  Fate  was  in  a 
particularly  tantalizing  mood  that  day,  and 
delighted  in  tormenting  these  little  specimens 
of  frail  humanity. 

Down  to  the  porch  went  the  two  delin- 
quents, fully  determined  to  be  model  children 
for  the  remainder  of  the  afternoon. 

Mischief,  however,  must  have  been  in  the 
air,  and  they  particularly  susceptible,  for  the 
door  was  scarcely  passed  when  Denise,  stop- 
ping, exclaimed :  "  The  candy,  Pokey  ;  let 's 
not  forget  that.  We  can  take  it  with  us  and 
we  can  go  up  under  the  trees  on  Hillside  road 
to  eat  it." 

Soon  the  candy  was  produced,  but  in  a  con- 
dition far  more  resembling  cold  molasses  than 


AN  EPIDEMIC   OF   MISCHIEF  87 

candy,  and  as  delectable  a  mess  as  two  young- 
sters could  wish  for. 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  we  '11  do,"  said  Denise, 
who  was  decidedly  a  young  woman  of  re- 
sources and  not  easily  discouraged.  "We  '11 
take  the  pan  and  two  spoons,  and  we  can  eat 
it  that  way." 

"  Won't  it  be  awful  sticky  ? "  demurred 
Pokey.      % 

"  Well,  never  mind  if  it  is.  We  won't  have 
to  touch  it  if  we  have  our  spoons,"  said 
Denise. 

When  John  saw  the  pan  of  sticky  stuff 
about  to  be  carried  into  the  phaeton,  he  ex- 
pressed himself  very  plainly  on  the  subject : 

"  Now,  Miss  Denise,  ye  know  ye  should  n't 
be  takin'  that  sticky  stuff  into  yer  little  phae- 
ton at  all.  Ye  '11  just  be  sthook  from  yer 
head  to  yer  heels  wid  it,  and  be  in  a  foine 
sthate." 

"  No,  we  won't,  John.    We  '11  be  careful." 

"Well,  Oim  much  mistaken  would  yer  aunt 
let  ye,  did  she  know." 

But  Denise  did  n't  wait  to  ascertain,  and 
giving  the  pan  and  spoons  into  Pokey's  keep- 
ing, started  off  in  great  haste,  in  all  her  goodly 
array  of  rose-colored  ribbons. 


88  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Hillside  road  was  a  delightful  one ;  more 
lane  than  public  driveway,  it  wound  up  the 
mountain  to  a  beautiful  residence  at  the  top, 
where  lived  old  Colonel  Franklin,  one  of  Mr. 
Lombard's  most  intimate  friends,  and  a  great 
admirer  of  Denise,  for  whom  he  cherished  a 
hearty  friendship. 

On  one  side  of  the  road  magnificent  maple- 
trees  cast  their  shadows  upon  a  tiny  rill  that 
trickled  and  sang  beneath  them,  and  upon 
the  other  the  ground  sloped  by  long,  gentle 
undulations  to  the  river  half  a  mile  away; 
giving  a  charming  view  of  the  Tappan  Zee, 
which  sparkled  in  the  afternoon  sunshine  that 
shone  on  it  and  on  the  beautiful  homes  of 
Irvington. 

It  was  an  ideal  spot  to  choose  for  an  after- 
noon drive,  and  delightfully  cool  and  quiet 
for  a  little  rest  when  one  had  gone  about  half- 
way up. 

Denise  had  an  eye  for  the  beautiful,  and 
stopping  Ned  under  a  spreading  maple  just 
where  the  road  was  most  inviting  and  the 
view  simply  perfect,  she  announced  com- 
placently  to   Pokey : 

"  Now,  this  is  what  I  call  a  lovely  spot, 
and  we  '11  just  sit  here  in  the  phaeton  and  eat 


AN   EPIDEMIC    OF    MISCHIEF  89 

our  candy,  and  not  have  anybody  to  bother 
us,  for  people  don't  often  come  this  way." 

Giving  Pokey  one  spoon,  and  arming  her- 
self with  the  other,  she  set  a  sweet  example 
by  dipping  up  some  of  the  mess  and  eating  it 
with  a  relish.  Pokey  followed  suit,  and  pres- 
ently about  half  of  it  had  vanished.  But  little 
by  little  their  tastes  became  sated  with  sweets, 
and  their  relish  began  to  lessen. 

"  I  don't  believe  I  can  eat  any  more,"  said 
Pokey.     "  Is  n't  it  too  sticky  and  sweet  ?  " 

"Well,  rather,"  said  Denise,  reluctantly; 
"but   it  's   good." 

Meanwhile,  Master  Ned  had  caught  the 
scent  of  something  eatable,  and  manifested  a 
desire  to  share  the  feast,  whatever  it  might 
consist  of.  He  turned  his  head  first  to  the 
right  and  then  to  the  left,  and  stretched  his 
neck  nearly  out  of  joint  in  his  endeavors  to 
see  what  it  might  be.  He  hoo-hooed,  whin- 
nied, and  pawed  till  Denise  could  no  longer 
resist  his  appeals.  So,  jumping  out  of  the 
phaeton,  she  set  the  pan  on  the  ground  in 
front  of  him  with  the  command : 

"  Now,  Ned  Toodles,  you  may  just  eat  the 
candy  in  that  pan,  and  see  that  you  leave  it 
perfectly  clean  and  shiny !  " 


CHAPTER  XI 

NED  DEVELOPS  A  TASTE  FOR  TAFFY 

|ED  needed  no  second  bidding,  but 
at  once  set  himself  to  the  task  most 
assiduously,  licking  and  slobbering 
to  his  heart's  content  and  his  head-stall's 
ruination. 

In  about  ten  minutes  the  mess  had  van- 
ished, and  he  raised  his  head,  a  spectacle  for 
a  tidy  hostler  to  groan  over. 

Molasses  and  foam  dripped  from  his  mouth; 
his  bit  was  literally  stuck  fast  to  it ;  the  hair 
about  his  muzzle  was  beautifully  plastered 
with  taffy,  and,  alas  for  the  rosy  ribbons, 
they  were  so  sticky  that  Denise  had  to  throw 
them  away. 

His  shaggy  mane  and  forelock  had  been 
nicely  sprinkled,  as  he  tossed  his  head  about 
in  his  vain  endeavors  to  free  himself  of  the 
sticky  stuff. 

Buckles  and  straps  were  well  coated,  and 
9o 


NED  DEVELOPS  A  TASTE  FOR  TAFFY   91 

he  himself  was  as  disreputable  and  rowdy  a 
little  beast  as  one  could  find  anywhere;  but 
he  had  enjoyed  himself — oh,  dear,  yes  ! — and 
snorted  and  begged  for  more. 

"Dear  me,  what  shall  we  do  with  him?" 
groaned  Denise. 

Pokey  could  only  look  on,  filled  with  dismay 
and  apprehension  as  to  what  their  reception 
at  home  wo"uld  probably  be. 

"  I  know  what  I  '11  do,"  exclaimed  Denise. 
"  I  '11  wash  his  face  with  the  carriage  robe. 
It 's  linen,  and  lots  easier  to  clean  than  the 
harness." 

So  Denise,  catching  up  the  robe,  dipped 
one  corner  of  it  into  the  brook,  and  then 
proceeded  to  scrub  Ned  till  she  had  succeeded 
in  getting  the  mess  well  off  of  him,  and  nicely 
transferred  to  herself. 

In  the  midst  of  the  operation  the  sound  of 
approaching  wheels  caused  her  to  glance  up 
the  hill,  to  behold  in  the  distance  Colonel 
Franklin's  elegant  victoria  coming  down  the 
road,  with  the  Colonel,  his  wife,  and  daughter 
therein. 

"  Quick,  quick !  "  she  cried.  "  Get  into  the 
phaeton,  and  take  care  of  the  pan  and  spoons, 
while   I   drive  home  as  fast  as  I  can  go,  for 


92  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

here  comes  the  Colonel,  and  I  would  n't  have 
him  catch  us  in  this  mess  for  anything." 

Bouncing  into  the  carriage,  she  caught  up 
the  reins,  and,  turning  around  like  a  whirl- 
wind, was  soon  tearing  down  the  hill  at  a 
breakneck  speed,  and  making  a  lively  chase 
for  the  big  horses  prancing  behind ;  for  when 
little  Ned  chose  to  go  he  could  get  over  the 
ground  in  a  very  lively  manner. 

Pokey  sat  breathless,  holding  fast  to  the 
pan  and  spoons;  but  as  the  chase  grew  live- 
lier, she  was  seized  with  a  desire  to  glance 
behind ;  and  that  one  glance  was  their  un- 
doing; for  she  forgot  all  about  the  pan  and 
spoons,  and  the  next  moment  they  were 
flying  wildly  out  into  the  middle  of  the  road. 

"There!  Now  you  have  done  it!"  ex- 
claimed Denise,  petulantly,  for  her  temper 
was  much  disturbed  by  thoughts  of  past, 
present,  and  future,  and  her  patience  was  not 
very  elastic. 

Nothing  could  be  done  but  go  back  to 
gather  up  the  scattered  articles,  and  by  the 
time  that  was  accomplished,  Colonel  Franklin 
was  upon  them. 

"  Good  afternoon,  young  ladies,"  said  he, 
with  a   courteous  bow,   while    his  wife   and 


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"  THE   PAN    AND    SPOONS    WERE    FLYING   WILDLY    OUT   INTO   THE 
MIDDLE    OF    THE    ROAD." 


NED  DEVELOPS  A  TASTE  FOR  TAFFY   95 

daughter  bowed  pleasantly.  "You  seem 
to  be  enjoying  yourselves,"  he  continued,  as 
his  twinkling  eyes  took  in  the  situation. 
"  May  I  ask  if  this  is  a  private  picnic  in  which 
Mr.  Toodles  is  an  honored  guest,  and  has 
had  the  lion's  share  of  the  sweeties  ?  " 

Poor  Denise  was  covered  with  confusion, 
and  scarcely  knew  how  to  reply ;  but  catch- 
ing sight  of  the  funny  side  of  the  predica- 
ment, she  burst  out  laughing,  and  was  joined 
very  heartily  by  all. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  looking  thing  as 
he  is?"  she  demanded.  "He  likes  taffy 
altogether  too  well,  and  oh,  me  !  what  a  mess 
he  has  made  of  himself;  and  what  Aunt  Helen 
will  say  when  we  get  home,  I  just  don't 
know.  I  don't  suppose  we  shall  ever  hear 
the  last  of  it,  do  you,  Colonel  Franklin  ?  "  she 
added  slyly. 

"No;  I  'm  afraid  you  never  will."  And 
she  never  did ;  for  years  after  the  Colonel 
would  ask:  "Well,  Miss  Denise,  do  you  still 
make  taffy  ? "  But,  at  the  time,  he  added 
cheerily : 

"  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  act  as  es- 
cort, Miss  Denise  ?  I  fear  Ned's  liberal  sup- 
ply of  liquid  taffy  has  rather  unsettled  him, 


96  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

and  he  seems  to  be  in  a  very  rowdy  frame  of 
mind." 

So  the  big  carriage  and  the  little  one  rolled 
along,  side  by  side,  till  the  home  road  was 
reached.  There  they  parted,  with  the  Colo- 
nel's assurance  that  he  had  never  been  in 
sweeter  society. 

"  How  could  we  act  so  ?  "  said  Denise,  re- 
morsefully, when  the  Colonel's  carriage  had 
passed  on.'  "I  'm  just  as  sorry  as  I  can  be, 
and  I  'm  going  straight  to  Auntie  to  tell  her 
so.  I  would  n't  blame  her  if  she  shut  us  up 
in  a  little  box  for  the  rest  of  the  afternoon,  for 
we  've  done  nothing  but  plague  her  ever 
since  luncheon." 

Soon  they  were  at  the  front  door,  a  very 
different  party  from  the  one  that  had  left  it 
an  hour  earlier.  John  was  in  a  most  right- 
eous rage  when  he  was  summoned  to  take 
Ned  back  to  the  stable,  and  he  gave  vent  to 
his  wrath  in  smothered  Celtic  as  he  led  the 
pony  away. 

And  well  he  might  be  angry,  for  Ned  was 
the  pride  of  the  devoted  creature's  heart,  and 
the  time  and  care  he  lavished  upon  the  little 
scamp  no  one  ever  guessed. 

"  Faith,  I  belave  the  Ould  Bye  himsilf  has 


NED  DEVELOPS  A  TASTE  FOR  TAFFY   97 

got  into  the  childer  to-day  !  "  John  muttered, 
shaking  his  head. 

Pokey  remained  on  the  lawn  to  swing  in 
the  hammock  while  Denise  went  in  search 
of  Auntie  to  confess  her  misdeeds  to  that 
much-enduring  woman. 

She  found  her  just  ready  to  descend  to  the 
porch  for  ah  hour's  rest  before  the  train  should 
arrive,  but  Auntie  promptly  learned  that  "the 
best-laid  plans  o'  mice  and  women  "  can  be 
upset  by  —  well  —  taffy,  ponies,  and  small 
children. 

Nothing  could  be  done  but  to  return  to  her 
room  and  get  the  sticky  youngster  restored 
to  a  proper  condition ;  and  it  is  small  wonder 
that  Auntie's  patience  came  near  giving  out, 
or  that  Denise  should  get  a  decided  lecture. 

"  I  am  more  annoyed  than  I  can  tell  you, 
Denise.  How  you  cou/dhave  been  so  thought- 
less and  selfish  to-day,  I  can't  understand." 

"  Selfish  ? "  echoed  Denise,  in  a  tone  of  sur- 
prise.    "  Have  I  been  selfish,  Aunt  Helen  ? " 

"Yes,  I  am  sure  the  word  will  apply  to 
the  case,  for  you  have  taken  no  pains  to  make 
my  duties  lighter,  when  you  could  not  fail  to 
know  that  I  had  a  great  deal  to  think  of  in 
this  big  house,  now  that  Mama  is  absent  and 


98  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

I  must  assume  the  entire  responsibility.  Then, 
too,  you  knew  a  guest  was  coming  and  that 
I  wished  to  have  all  in  proper  order  for  his 
comfort,  and  that  I  must  get  Papa's  room 
ready,  as  well.  All  this  made  extra  work  for 
Mary,  who  must  now  set  to  work  and  clean 
this  candy  off  your  dress,  besides  having 
Pokey's  to  dry  and  iron  just  when  she  is  at 
her  busiest. 

"  So  you  see  that,  instead  of  trying  to  be 
thoughtful  for  others  and  making  as  little 
trouble  as  possible,  you  have  gone  on  from 
one  prank  to  another,  till  now  the  climax  is 
reached.  John  must  work  this  evening  to 
get  Ned  tidy.  I  have  had  to  dress  you  again, 
just  when  I  was  ready  to  sit  down  and  rest 
after  a  fatiguing  day,  and  Mary  must  work 
too.     It  is  trying  for  us  all." 

"But  I  could  n't  help  it  if  Pokey  got  upset, 
could  I  ?  —  and  was  n't  it  just  too  funny  for 
anything  ?  "  and,  in  spite  of  her  aunt's  rebuke, 
up  bubbled  a  little  laugh  at  the  recollection. 

"  No,  dear,  I  'm  not  blaming  you  for  Po- 
key's mishaps,"  was  the  answer;  "but  I  want 
my  little  niece  to  be  more  careful  of  her  own 
conduct,  and  by  so  doing  to  help  Pokey  over- 
come her  blundering  ways." 


NED  DEVELOPS  A  TASTE  FOR  TAFFY   99 

"Can  I,  Auntie?    I  never  thought  of  that." 

"Yes,  dear,  you  can  do  a  great  deal  toward 
it,  for  you  know  Pokey  loves  you  dearly,  and 
admires  you  as  well  as  loves  you.  She  has 
not  such  a  happy  home  as  yours,  nor  is  she 
taught  as  carefully  as  you  are.  Nothing  helps 
us  so  much  as  good  influences  and  a  wise 
example.  We  may  not  realize  it  at  the  time, 
but  the  impression  is  just  as  strong,  and,  un- 
consciously, grows  with  us. 

"  Some  day  when  you  are  grown,  and  look 
back  upon  this  dear  home  life,  you  will  under- 
stand what  I  mean,  and  be  so  grateful  to  dear 
Papa  and  Mama  for  giving  you  such  a  happy 
girlhood,  and  teaching  you  in  such  a  sweet 
way.  There,  darling,  my  little  lecture  is 
ended,  and  I  don't  believe  we  shall  need  an- 
other for  some  time,  shall  we  ?  " 

"  No,  Auntie,  we  won't.  We  truly  won't !  " 
and  she  clasped  her  arms  around  the  kind 
aunt  who  never  scolded,  no  matter  how  strong 
the  provocation  might  be. 

Just  then,  the  train's  whistle  told  them  that 
in  a  few  moments  Papa  would  be  with  them, 
and  both  hurried  down  to  the  piazza,  where 
Pokey  joined  them. 

Soon  Denise  was  gathered  into  a  pair  of 


ioo  DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

arms  which  held  her  close,  while  their  owner 
said : 

"  How  has  my  darling  little  daughter  been 
getting  along  without  us  all  this  time  ? " 

"  We  have  missed  you  dreadfully,"  was  the 
reply,  "  and  if  it  had  n't  been  for  Pokey  and 
Ned  we  never  could  have  endured  it!  I  want 
to  see  Mama  so  badly  that  I  don't  know  how 
I  can  wait  a  week  longer." 

"She  sends  you  ninety-nine  kisses  by  me, 
and  I  shall  have  to  give  them  on  the  instal- 
ment plan ;  so  here  are  ten  to  begin  with ; 
after  dinner  you  may  have  some  more." 


CHAPTER   XII 

captain  Hamilton's  plan 

'ELL,  little  Miss  Muggins,"  said  the 
Captain,  when  they  were  all  seated 
at  dinner,  "  how  are  the  children 
flourishing,  and  what  is  this  I  hear  about  a 
remarkable  play-house  ?  I  've  not  been  out 
here  in  such  a  long  time  that  I  'm  quite  in  the 
dark  regarding  the  important  events  of  the 
family.  Will  you  take  me  out  for  a  visit 
after  dinner  ? " 

"  Indeed  I  will,"  answered  Denise,  with  alac- 
rity, "  and  Pokey  will  show  you  how  fast  Ned 
and  Tan  have  learned  to  run ;  won't  you, 
Pokey?" 

Pokey  very  promptly  turned  the  tables  by 
answering:  "Yes,  if  you  will  tell  them  how 
fond  of  taffy  Ned  has  become,  and  how  nicely 
he  can  pull  out  pegs." 

Naturally  these  mysterious  remarks  had  to 
be  explained,  which  caused  a  hearty  laugh  all 


102  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

round,  and  effectually  dispelled  any  sign  of 
clouds  which  might  have  remained. 

As  soon  as  dinner  was  finished  all  strolled 
out  to  the  Bird's  Nest,  where  the  children  dis- 
played their  treasures  and  explained  their  ex- 
ceptional merits. 

Sailor  and  Beauty  seemed  to  think  that 
they  must  assist  in  doing  the  honors,  so  while 
one  tore  around,  the  other  paraded  about  with 
his  great  plumy  tail  waving  like  a  banner,  and 
his  big  soft  eyes  showing  the  affection  he  could 
not  speak. 

Then  all  the  pets  were  visited  in  turn,  from 
Ned  down  to  the  twenty-seven  bunnies,  whose 
house  stood  in  an  adjoining  field.  These  little 
bobtails  demanded  no  small  amount  of  care, 
you  may  well  guess,  for  there  were  "fathers, 
mothers,  uncles,  cousins ;  families  by  tens  and 
dozens,"  of  all  sizes  and  ages. 

"  What  in  the  world  do  you  ever  intend  do- 
ing with  all  these  pussies  ?  "  asked  the  Captain. 
"Are  n't  Hero  and  Leander  enough  in  that 
line,  with  just  half  a  dozen  here  for  company? " 

"  Hero"  and  "  Leander  "  were  Denise's  cats, 
and  had  been  so  named  by  Papa,  who  had  res- 
cued them  from  a  watery  grave  when  they  were 
wee  kittens. 


CAPTAIN   HAMILTON'S   PLAN  103 

"Captain  Hamilton,"  said  Denise,  impres- 
sively, "I  wish  I  could  answer  that  question, 
but  I  can't." 

"You  have  roused  a  vexed  question,  Cap- 
tain, for  she  won't  hear  of  one  of  those  bunnies 
being  sent  to  Bunny  Land,  and  if  the  family 
continues  to  increase  for  the  next  two  years 
as  it  has  in  the  past,  we  shall  have  to  buy  a 
ten-acre  field  to  keep  it  in,"  said  Mr.  Lombard. 

"  Eh,  is  that  true  ?  Why,  the  matter  is 
serious ;  but  it  's  lucky  we  spoke  of  it,  for 
I  've  a  fine  idea,  which  I  've  borrowed  from 
George,  and  if  you  will  just  sit  down  here  on 
the  grass  beside  me,  I  '11  tell  you  in  two  min- 
utes," said  the  good-natured  Captain,  who 
had  a  family  of  eight  boys  far  away  across 
the  sea  in  England,  and  was  only  too  glad  to 
have  a  chat  with  little  people  for  the  sake  of 
his  own  at  home. 

So  the  party  settled  themselves  on  the  soft 
lawn  in  front  of  the  Bird's  Nest,  the  children 
snuggling  close  to  the  Captain,  and  listening 
eagerly. 

"  You  see,  George  had  some  rabbits  given 
him  about  three  years  since,  and  as  we  'd 
only  a  place  about  fifteen  feet  square  in  which 
to  keep  them,  in  the  course  of  time  he  found 


104  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

himself  very  like  the  old  woman  who  lived  in 
a  shoe.  What  to  do  with  his  big  family  he 
did  n't  know.  However,  about  three  weeks 
before  I  sailed,  some  garden  truck  was 
brought  to  Mrs.  Hamilton  by  a  farmer  who 
lived  a  little  way  back  in  the  country,  and 
one  of  his  boys  happened  to  come  along  with 
him.  I  give  you  my  word,  that  boy  went 
nearly  wild  over  George's  rabbits,  and 
George's  mother  suggested  that  some  should 
be  given  him. 

"  So  the  bargain  was  struck  in  this  way : 
four  bunnies  were  to  be  given  to  each  boy, 
providing  he  would  promise  the  best  of  care 
for  them,  and,  as  there  were  four  boys,  that 
disposed  of  sixteen  bunnies. 

"  They  were  put  into  a  big  box,  and  away 
they  went  with  the  farmer's  lad,  George 
going  along  too,  that  he  might  be  sure  they 
had  good,  comfortable  quarters,  although  he 
would  have  to  walk  all  the  way  back  home, 
and  it  was  a  good  six  miles,  too.  But  he 
never  cared  a  rap  for  that. 

''When  he  got  home  in  the  afternoon  he 
was  as  muddy  a  young  tramp  as  you  could 
wish  for,  but  as  happy  as  possible  ;  and  so 
were  we,"  he  added,   in  conclusion. 


CAPTAIN    HAMILTON'S   PLAN  105 

"Was  n't  that  splendid!"  cried  Denise, 
clapping  her  hands.  "  Papa,  do  you  suppose 
Farmer  Sutton's  boys  would  like  some  of  my 
bunnies  ? " 

"  I  'm  sure  they  would  be  overjoyed  to 
have  them,"  said  her  father,  heartily  and  with 
charming  decision. 

"  Do  you  truly  ?  Well,  I  've  a  plan.  John 
is  to  harness  Sunshine  to  the  garden  cart, 
and  drive  Pokey  and  me  and  some  bunnies 
over  there  to-morrow  morning.     May  he  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  think  you  will  find  it  rather 
rough  riding?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  we  shan't  mind  it,  shall  we, 
Pokey?     It  will  be  fun." 

Pokey  seemed  to  think  that  the  jolts  would 
add  to  the  novelty,  and  permission  was  given 
with  delightful  promptness,  and  John  was 
told  to  have  everything  ready  by  nine  o'clock. 

Never  did  he  receive  a  more  gratifying  or- 
der, for  the  bunnies  were  beginning  to  seem 
like  a  millstone  about  his  neck. 

When  the  pets'  territory  had  been  left  be- 
hind, and  the  children  had  gone  for  a  romp 
with  Sailor  and  Beauty,  Mr.  Lombard  said : 

"  Captain,  I  feel  called  upon  to  offer  a  vote 
of  thanks,    for  you   have   proved  yourself  a 


106  DENISE  AND  NED   TOODLES 

public  benefactor  and  capable  of  solving  a 
deep  problem." 

"  Never  you  mind  the  problems.  Let  the 
lads  and  lasses  have  their  good  times  and  be 
happy  with  their  pets.  It  's  good  training 
for  them  against  the  time  they  grow  up  and 
have  pets  that  they  can't  send  off  to  the  neigh- 
bors to  be  looked  after,  and  it  will  make  them 
all  the  more  affectionate  and  patient.  But  I 
can't  see  them  grieved,  and  if  a  little  manceu- 
vering  can  save  a  tear,  let  's  have  the  ma- 
nceuver,  say  I." 

Next  day  the  bunnies  were  sent  off.  Pokey 
and  Denise  perched  beside  John  in  the  gar- 
den cart,  which  went  jiggerty-jog,  jiggerty- 
jog,  as  Sunshine  trotted  along. 

Never  was  a  jollier  ride,  for  they  sang 
songs  all  the  way  over,  and  John  told  stories 
of  Ireland  and  its  jaunting-cars,  while  the 
children  hung  their  feet  over  the  sides  of  the 
cart  and  played  they  were  going  to  Dublin. 

Surely  the  road  was  rocky  enough  to  sug- 
gest it,  and  it  was  a  wonder  that  they  were 
not  shaken  to  bits  on  the  way. 

No  need  to  tell  how  happy  the  boys  were 
to  get  the  pretty  rabbits.  In  an  hour's  time 
they  had  built  a  nice  house  for  them  in  a  big 


CAPTAIN   HAMILTON'S   PLAN  107 

orchard  near  the  house,  and  the  bunnies  were 
well  settled  in  new  quarters  and  seemed  quite 
at  home. 

"  We  're  jist  powerful  obleeged  to  ye,"  said 
the  old  farmer;  "and  them  boys  won't  git  a 
wink  o'  sleep  to-night  fer  thinkin'  on  them 
rabbits.  Reckon  ye  need  n't  worrit  about 
their  bein' fed  reg'lar.  They  '11  be  stuffed  like 
geese.  Now  come  along  and  let  me  fill  that 
thar  cart,  and  then  ye  can  play  ye  're  farmers 
goin'  ter  markit." 

Soon  the  cart  was  filled  with  all  sorts  of 
good  things,  for  Dame  Sutton  had  a  private 
supply  of  her  own  for  the  children,  and  there 
was  no  danger  of  famine. 

"  Don't  you  want  to  go  down  this  lane  a 
little  way  ?  "  asked  Pokey,  slyly,  when  they 
were  returning  home. 

"  No  ;  I  'd  rather  stop  and  gather  button- 
balls  for  walnuts,"  said  Denise,  laughing,  for 
Pokey's  last  achievement  had  been  to  gather 
a  half-bushel  of  these  balls,  supposing  them 
to  be  walnuts,  and  to  lug  them  home  in  tri- 
umph, only  to  be  laughed  at  for  expecting 
to  find  walnuts  in  August. 

"  I  don't  care  if  you  all  did  laugh  at  me. 
I  'm  going  to  make  something  pretty  of  them 


lo8  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

for  Christmas,  See  if  I  don't,"  said  Pokey, 
nodding  her  head  wisely. 

And  the  clever  child  actually  did  make  an 
exceedingly  pretty  hanging  basket  by  string- 
ing the  balls  on  wires,  and  lining  her  basket 
with  gray  moss. 

Ferns  were  to  be  had  for  the  digging,  and 
when  Pokey  returned  to  town  two  weeks  later, 
she  carried  with  her  a  pretty  souvenir  which 
suggested  her  country  visit  long  after  the  visit 
had  ended  and  the  snow  had  buried  the  other 
ferns  and  buttonballs. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


PATSY    MURPHY 


'HY  is  it  that  the  good  times  slip  by 
so  quickly  and  the  tiresome  ones 
drag?  Can  some  one  answer  that 
question  ? 

Hardly  had  the  joy  of  Mama's  return  and 
Grandma's  arrival  subsided,  than  it  was  time 
for  Pokey  to  return  to  her  home  and  begin 
her  lessons ;  for  she  went  to  a  school  which 
opened  its  doors  the  first  Monday  in  Septem- 
ber, even  if  the  days  were  hotter  than  when 
it  had  closed  them  in  June. 

So  poor  Pokey  had  to  tear  herself  away 
from  her  delightful  frolics  with  Denise  and 
"the  children,"  and  to  prepare  to  stew  her 
poor  brains  till  little  hint  of  the  roses  she  had 
found  in  the  country  remained  to  tell  the  story 
of  fresh  breezes  and  sunshine. 

For  a  time  Denise  was  utterly  forlorn,  and 
even  the  pets  failed  to  console  her.  The 
7  109 


no       DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

weather  was  still  very  warm,  and  her  studies 
would  not  begin  till  the  ist  of  October,  when 
Miss  Meredith  would  return. 

And  in  the  interval  she  hardly  knew  how 
to  occupy  herself,  for  the  Bird's  Nest  seemed 
lonely  and  dull  without  its  second  chirper,  and 
Denise  dreaded  to  go  into  it  and  find  there 
no  happy-go-lucky  little  body  who  was  always 
amiability  personified  and  ready  with  some 
splendid  plan  for  a  new  play.  For  Pokey 
read  to  some  purpose,  and  had  no  end  of 
pleasant  ideas  stored  away  in  her  wise  little 
noddle. 

So  Denise  tried  to  console  herselt  with  long 
rides  on  Ned.  John  had  taught  her  to  ride, 
and  Ned  was  perfectly  trained  for  the  saddle. 
Such  delightful  rambles  and  races ;  for  Ned 
could  pace,  canter,  or  run  as  the  turn  of  the 
bridle  or  position  of  the  whip  indicated  to  him, 
and  was  equally  delightful  in  any  gait. 

And  so  they  would  swing  along  in  the  sun- 
shine, or  under  the  big  trees ;  Denise  singing 
or  talking  to  him,  and  he  tossing  his  head  as 
though  he  understood  perfectly. 

Often  she  would  lean  forward  and  clasp 
both  arms  around  his  warm,  soft  neck,  lay  her 
face  in  his  shaggy  mane,  and  let   him  walk 


PATSY    MURPHY  in 

whither  he  would.  And  how  the  dear  little 
fellow  enjoyed  his  petting !  Never  did  an 
animal  display  greater  reciprocity  of  affection, 
or  prove  more  plainly  that  to  him  Denise 
was  the  dearest  being  in  the  world. 

One  warm,  dusty  morning,  Denise  and 
Ned  were  going  along  a  path  which  ran  close 
by  the  river,  when  they  suddenly  came  upon 
a  little  urchin  known  to  the  town  as  Patsy 
Murphy,  the  dirtiest,  most  harum-scarum  little 
ragamuffin  the  place  produced. 

Perched  upon  a  rock  close  to  the  water's 
edge,  he  sat  "  skipping  "  stones  into  the  river 
as  if  life  held  no  greater  pleasure. 

Barefooted,  his  trousers  in  rags  and  tatters 
and  held  up  by  one  suspender,  which  had 
doubtless  originally  belonged  to  his  father ;  a 
gingham  shirt  guiltless  of  a  button  and  held 
together  by  an  old  brass  safety-pin ;  his  red 
hair  cropped  short  to  avoid  the  trouble  of 
combing,  and  his  elfish  little  freckled  face 
artistically  streaked  with  dirt  and  perspira- 
tion, he  was  a  fair  specimen  of  the  spirit  of 
mischief. 

Ned  stopped  and  regarded  him  as  a  curios- 
ity, while  Denise  gazed  upon  him  with  min- 
gled disgust  and  amusement 


112  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  Tip  o'  the  day  to  ye,  Miss  Denise,"  said 
Patsy,  unabashed. 

"  How  do  you  do  ?  "  was  the  reply. 

"  Is  it  how  I  do,  ye  V  axin'  ?  Well,  I  'm 
jist  afther  scuttlin'  out  av  the  school,  an'  nary 
a  bit  will  I  set  me  fut  insoid  it  this  day." 

"  I  should  think  you  would  be  ashamed  to 
say  so,  when  you  know  your  mother  wants 
you  to  learn  something.  She  works  hard 
enough,  I  'm  sure  !  " —  reprovingly. 

"  L'arn  su'thin',  is  it  ?  Don't  I  know  su'thin' 
alriddy  ?  Whisht  now,  whilst  I  tell  ye  what 
I  l'arnt  the  day.  T'acher  she  axed  me  had  I 
tin  apples  an'  Johnny  Doyle  five,  how  many 
more  would  I  have  thin  Johnny  ?  An'  I  told 
her  fifteen,  bekase  I  'd  moighty  soon  swipe 
Johnny's  an'  roon  wid  'em." 

Denise  felt  that  Patsy's  arithmetic  was  a 
little  beyond  her,  so  she  ignored  the  last  re- 
mark, and  said  severely :  "I  don't  see  how 
you  can  get  so  dirty.  You  are  just  not  fit  to 
be  seen.  A  great  boy  nine  years  old,  with 
such  a  dirty  face." 

"  Is  me  face  dirty?" — innocently.  "Now 
howiver  c'u'd  I  know  that  when  the  lookin'- 
glass  is  broke  ?  An'  listen  whilst  I  tell  ye  a 
sacret."     And  hopping  off  his  rock,  he  came 


PATSY   MURPHY  115 

close  to  Denise  and  said  in  a  confidential 
tone : 

"  D'  ye  know  when  I  got  out  av  me  bed 
this  marnin',  I  said  I  'd  wash  me  face,  an'  I 
wint  to  git  the  bowl.  But  what  do  ye  think 
me  mither  says  ?  Says  she,  '  Patsy,  don't  ye 
be  takin'  that  bowl.  I  'm  jist  afther  cl'anin' 
it  ter  make  bread  in.'  Now,  do  ye  mind,  I 
could  n't  be  clane  fur  thot  r'ason  ?  "  said  the 
incorrigible. 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  boy  in  my  life  !  "  ex- 
claimed Denise,  gathering  up  her  reins ;  and 
she  went  on,  leaving  Patsy  glorying  over  his 
victory. 

Could  she  have  seen  him  after  the  turn  in 
the  road  hid  him  from  her  sight,  her  peace  of 
mind  would  doubtless  have  been  even  more 
exercised,  for,  giving  his  ragged  scrap  of  a 
hat  a  toss,  he  proceeded  to  execute  a  dance 
of  triumph  by  turning  handsprings  over  the 
sand. 

Following  the  pretty  path  along  the  shore, 
Denise  soon  reached  a  road  which  led  ab- 
ruptly up  the  bank  and  brought  one  to  a 
little  country  store  —  one  of  those  stores  in 
which  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  articles  is 
sold,  a  place  patronized  by  people  who  did 


Il6  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

not  care  to  walk  to  the  village  when  a  spool 
of  thread,  a  pound  of  sugar,  or  a  fish-line  was 
needed. 

For  several  very  good  reasons,  Ned  had  a 
strong  fancy  for  this  particular  store.  First, 
only  three  steps  needed  to  be  climbed  to 
enter  it,  and  those  gave  him  no  trouble 
whatever.  Next,  chocolate  creams  were  sold 
there,  and  he  was  very  fond  of  them. 

And  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  Mr.  Jones, 
the  storekeeper,  thought  it  a  great  joke  to 
have  him  come  pattering  in  with  Denise  on 
his  back,  walk  up  to  the  counter,  and  whinny 
for  cream-drops. 

So  you  may  be  sure  that  he  needed  no 
urging  when  once  he  found  himself  headed 
in  the  direction  of  the  store,  and  he  scrambled 
up  the  steep  hill  as  though  the  impish  Patsy 
were  in  hot  pursuit.  Faster  and  faster  he 
walked ;  then  he  broke  into  a  trot ;  and,  at 
last,  finding  that  he  was  not  restrained  by  word 
or  rein,  he  broke  into  a  brisk  canter  which 
soon  brought  him  to  the  object  of  his  desire. 

Denise  let  him  have  his  own  way,  so,  mak- 
ing straight  for  the  entrance,  he  scrambled 
up  the  steps,  clattered  across  the  little  stoop, 
and  bounced  into  the  store. 


PATSY   MURPHY  119 

Two  or  three  steps  brought  him  to  the 
counter  where  the  cream-drops  were  kept, 
and  a  loud  neigh  made  known  his  wants  to 
Mr.  Jones,  who  had  just  laid  a  stick  of  pep- 
permint candy  upon  the  counter  for  a  little 
girl,  who,  doing  her  best  to  produce  a  penny 
from  an  atom  of  a  pocket,  was  so  absorbed 
by  the  struggle  that  she  paid  no  attention  to 
the  queer  customer  who  had  just  entered. 

But  to  Ned  the  temptation  was  too  great, 
and  in  just  about  half  a  second  he  had  reached 
out  and  grabbed  the  candy. 

The  sudden  move  caused  the  child  to  look 
up,  just  in  time  to  catch  sight  of  the  end  of 
a  pink-and-white  stick  vanishing  in  a  black 
mouth. 

It  had  all  happened  so  quickly  that  Denise 
was  helpless,  and  it  was  so  funny  that  she  could 
not  help  laughing  when  she  discovered  it. 

But  the  defrauded  child  did  not  see  it  in  a 
funny  light  at  all,  and  lifting  up  her  voice,  she 
howled  dismally. 

"  Oh,  don't  cry  !  "  said  Denise.  "  I  '11  buy 
some  more  candy.  And  you  must  n't  blame 
Ned,  for  he  thought  Mr.  Jones  had  put  the 
stick  there  for  him.  Did  n't  you,  you  little 
scamp  ?  "  she  asked,  pulling  his  mane. 


120  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Soon  more  candy  was  produced,  and  Little 
Forlornity  was  sent  on  her  way  rejoicing  over 
ten  cents'  worth  of  chocolate  creams,  while 
Ned  was  made  happy  with  his  allowance  of 
five,  and  was  quite  ready  to  turn  his  inquisi- 
tive nose  toward  home  when  the  word  was 
given. 

"  You  are  a  bad  little  scrap,"  said  Denise, 
as  he  clattered  out  of  the  store,  "  and  if  you 
don't  behave  better,  I  'm  afraid  you  won't  get 
any  birthday  present,  and  in  a  few  weeks  you 
will  have  a  birthday,  you  know.  At  least  / 
shall,  and  it  's  all  the  same.  So  you  'd  better 
behave ! " 


CHAPTER   XIV 


BIRTHDAY     PLANS 


jNLY  think,  Mama;  in  three  weeks 
I  shall  have  had  Ned  one  whole 
year.  It  seems  to  me  as  though 
I  'd  always  had  him,"  said  Denise,  one  morn- 
ing, as  she  sat  in  her  mother's  pleasant  room. 

"  Do  you  think,  darling,  that  you  ever  en- 
joyed a  year  as  well  ?  "  asked  her  mother. 

"  No ;  I  'm  sure  I  never  did.  Of  course  I 
loved  Sailor  and  Beauty  and  Tan,  but  I  don't 
think  any  one  could  love  a  goat  or  a  dog  as 
well  as  they  could  love  such  a  dear  little  wise 
pony  as  Ned  is.     Do  you  ?  " 

"  Hardly.  But  don't  you  think  we  ought 
to  have  a  frolic  to  celebrate  Ned's  anniver- 
sary, and  let  him  share  in  it  ?  " 

"Oh,  Mama,  can  we?  Would  n't  it  be 
fun  !     What  could  we  do  ?  " 

"  I  think  we  can  have  the  frolic,  dear,  for 
there  is  just  the  hint  of  a  shade  of  an  idea  in 


122  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

my  head  this  very  minute ;  and  if  my  darling 
little  daughter  will  come  and  sit  on  the  arm 
of  my  big  chair  while  I  sit  here  to  rest, 
I  would  not  wonder  if  it  took  form  and 
shape." 

"  Moddie,  Moddie,  Moddie  !  Whatever 
should  I  do  without  you  ? "  said  Denise, 
snuggling  close  to  her  mother.  "  Now 
I   'm  all  ready  to  hear  '  the  hint  of  a  shade.' " 

So,  cheek  to  cheek,  they  talked  it  over,  and 
three  weeks  later  it  carried  happiness  to  five 
other  children,  lads  and  lasses. 

"Let  me  see,"  said  Mama.  "The  ioth 
falls  on  Saturday.  How  would  it  be  to  have 
Pokey  come  out  on  Friday  afternoon  and 
stay  with  us  till  Monday  morning?  On  your 
birthday  we  could  invite  May,  Murray,  Harry, 
and  Tom,  and  all  go  off  on  a  grand  nutting- 
party.  We  can  go  to  Sheppard's  Brook ; 
and  Papa,  Miss  Meredith,  John,  and  I  could 
go  in  the  surrey  and  make  ourselves  gener- 
ally useful. 

"  You  could  take  the  depot-wagon,  and 
divide  up  the  rides  as  the  fancy  took  you. 
The  boys  won't  mind  the  walk  in  the  least  ; 
but  if  they  should  suddenly  grow  weary,"  — 
and  Mama  smiled  suggestively, —  "  you  girls 


BIRTHDAY   PLANS  123 

could  do  a  little  walking  without  taking  any 
harm." 

"  Of  course  we  could;  and  would  n't  it  be 
perfectly  splendid  !  " 

"  John  can  drive  us,"  continued  Mama, 
"and  when  we  reach  there  he  can  be  general 
utility-man,  looking  after  Ned  and  Sunshine, 
getting  out  the  lunch-baskets,  and  climbing 
the  trees  if  they  prove  too  much  for  the  boys. 
What  do  you  think  of  my  plan,  dear  ?  " 

"Mama,"  said  Denise,  solemnly,  "what  do 
you  suppose  girls  do  who  have  n't  mothers 
that  think  out  lovely  plans  for  them  ?  I  don't 
see  how  I  'm  ever  going  to  pay  back  all  you 
do  for  me."  And  she  looked  seriously  bur- 
dened with  her  obligations. 

"  Put  the  speaking-tube  to  my  lips,  so 
that  no  one  else  can  hear,  and  I  '11  tell  you 
how  to  cancel  your  obligations,"  said  Mama, 
smiling. 

Denise  laughed,  and  pushing  back  her 
long  brown  curls,  put  her  soft  ear  close  to 
her  mother's  lips. 

"  By  being  a  thoughtful,  obedient,  unself- 
ish little  gentlewoman,"  was  whispered  in 
the  speaking-tube. , 

"  I  will,  Moddie,  indeed  I  will ;  for  I  don't 


124  DENISE   AND    NED   TOODLES 

see  how  a  girl  could  be  anything  else  when 
she  has  such  a  precious  Moddie ! "  cried 
Denise,   kissing  her  mother  tenderly. 

Denise  was  delighted,  and  consequently 
the  letter  was  written  to  Pokey  that  very  day, 
and  as  quickly  as  the  mail  could  bring  it  the 
reply  came  to  state  that  Pokey  would  accept 
with  pleasure. 

Between  that  and  the  time  set  for  Pokey's 
arrival,  Denise  spent  most  of  her  time  in 
hunting  up  all  the  baskets  and  bags  to  be 
had,  and  in  telling  Ned  over  and  over  again 
that  he  was  to  go  on  a  nutting  frolic  on  his 
birthday. 

On  the  29th  Miss  Meredith  returned,  and 
on  the  1  st  of  October  the  studies  began 
again,  and  helped  the  time  pass  more  quickly 
till  Pokey  should  come. 

Denise  had  an  active  little  brain,  which 
made  it  a  pleasure  to  teach  her,  so  she  and 
Miss  Meredith  got  on  capitally.  Moreover, 
Miss  Meredith  was  a  born  teacher,  and  helped 
the  bright  little  mind  she  had  in  her  care  to 
unfold  as  naturally  as  a  flower.  No  matter 
how  prosy  the  subject  might  be,  she  possessed 
the  rare  faculty  of  turning  it  into  a  fairy  tale, 
and  she  had  oftener  to  say,  "We  will  keep 


BIRTHDAY   PLANS  125 

the  rest  for  another  day  "  than  "  Let  us  finish 
this  to-day." 

Lessons  were  always  ended  at  one  o'clock, 
and  all  the  beautiful  autumn  afternoons  Denise 
was  free  to  follow  the  bent  of  her  fancies, 
while  Miss  Meredith  enjoyed  her  rest  and  the 
society  of  Grandma  and  Mama. 

And  Denise  had  plenty  to  occupy  the  after- 
noons, for  she  had  undertaken  to  teach  Ned 
the  tricks  she  had  seen  a  circus  pony  perform, 
and  the  modus  operandi  was  funny  enough. 
John,  naturally,  was  general  factotum,  and 
entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  thing  with  a 
zest;  for  he  firmly  believed  that  Ned  was  the 
{t  intilligintest  baste "  that  ever  lived,  and  it 
was  simply  a  question  of  telling  him  what  to 
do,  and  he  would  do  it  at  once. 

The  first  move  was  to  make  a  ring  about 
sixty  feet  in  circumference  out  in  the  dis- 
mantled vegetable  garden ;  and  the  next  to 
take  a  big  box,  five  feet  long,  three  wide,  and 
one  foot  high,  and  fasten  a  large  block  of 
wood  at  the  left-hand  corner  —  a  block  about 
fifteen  inches  high.  Beside  this  was  a  post 
about  ten  inches  higher. 

Then  the  whole  thing  must  be  covered  with 
one  of  Flash's  old  blankets,  carefully  cut  and 


126  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

tacked  on,  so  that  Ned  need  not  slip,  and  his 
pedestal  was  complete. 

An  old  carriage  rug  laid  in  the  center  of 
the  ring  served  as  kneeling-mat,  and  then 
they  were  ready  to  begin. 

And  I  can  assure  you  that  it  took  many 
days  and  much  patience  before  Ned  was  pro- 
nounced perfect  and  fit  for  a  public  per- 
formance. First  he  had  to  be  taught  to  go 
around  the  ring  by  himself,  and  one  after  the 
other  the  various  tricks  were  learned ;  but  we 
will  tell  of  these  at  another  time. 

The  9th  came  very  quickly,  and  Denise 
was  in  a  perfect  fever  of  excitement.  Long 
before  the  train  was  due  she  was  at  the  depot, 
driving  up  and  down  to  keep  little  Ned  from 
taking  cold  in  his  head,  for  the  days  were 
growing  frosty,  and  by  four  o'clock  one  felt 
grateful  for  a  snug  jacket. 

But  at  last  the  whistle  sounded,  and  in  a 
moment  more  the  train  had  deposited  Miss 
Pokey  and  Papa  upon  the  platform. 

Presently  the  little  depot-wagon  had  all 
it  could  hold,  for  Papa  and  the  big  satchel 
filled  the  back  seat,  and  the  two  chatter- 
boxes occupied  the  front,  as  Ned  whisked 
them   away. 


wwi  tsm 


-     '4' 


"IT   TOOK    MANY   DAYS   AND    MUCH    PATIENCE    BEFORE    NED    WAS 
PRONOUNCED    PERFECT." 


BIRTHDAY   PLANS  129 

"  Did  you  bring  an  old  dress  and  jacket  ?  " 
was  the  first  question. 

"  Yes ;  and  old  shoes  too,  for  Mama  said 
I  'd  be  sure  to  need  them." 

"  I  feel  sure  you  will,  and  I  '11  let  you  have 
my  boating-cap,  and  then  you  will  be  all  fixed 
out." 

"  Oh,  won't  it  be  fun !  "  cried  Pokey,  with 
a  bounce,  as  if  already  jumping  up  after  the 
falling  nuts.  "  Is  n't  it  splendid  to  be  out 
here  again  and  sniff  the  fresh  air  ?  " 

"Are  n't  you  afraid  of  Ned's  bouncing 
now  ?  "  asked  Papa. 

"  No,  indeed,  I  'm  not.  He  can  bounce 
all  he  wants  to,  for  if  he  spills  us  we  shall 
tumble  on  the  soft  grass  beside  the  road,  and 
not  on  the  old  city  stones'''  replied  Pokey, 
rather  recklessly. 

"  Papa,  do  you  think  the  day  will  be  fine  ?  " 

"  Made  to  order,"  was  the  reassuring  reply. 
"  Just  look  at  old  Sol  taking  himself  off  to 
bed  behind  the  mountain.  Tell  me,  did  you 
ever  see  the  old  fellow  looking  jollier  ? " 


CHAPTER  XV 

POKEY    HAS    A    DREAM 

KNOW  I  sha'n't  sleep  one  wink 
to-night,"  said  Pokey,  as  the  chil- 
dren settled  themselves  in  bed  at 
an  early  hour,  in  order  to  be  up  betimes  in 
the  morning. 

"  Yes,  you  will,  too.  You  '11  just  go  right 
off  to  the  Land  o'  Nod,  as  you  always  do,  and 
leave  me  talking  to  the  darkness." 

"  I  sha'n't,  either.  Don't  you  suppose  I 
want  to  talk  just  as  much  as  you  do  ?  Only 
you  know  Mrs.  Mama  said  we  were  not  to 
talk  too  long,  or  we  should  n't  be  able  to  wake 
up  early  enough  in  the  morning." 

"Well,  we  won't  talk   too  long;  but  how 

many  bags  do  you    guess   we  shall    gather 

to-morrow  ? " 
_  * 

"Twenty,  at  least,"  was  the  wise  reply;  for 

Pokey's  nutting  expeditions  had  been  few  and 


POKEY   HAS  A   DREAM  131 

far  between,  and  her  ideas  on  the  subject 
were  decidedly  vague. 

"Well,  I  know  that  we  sha'n't," — posi- 
tively.     "Why,  if  we  get  six  it  will  be  a  lot." 

"  Six !  I  believe  I  could  gather  six  all  by 
myself.    Are  the  bags  as  big  as  my  satchel  ?  " 

"As  big  as  your  satchel!  Why,  Pokey 
Delano,  they  are  empty  flour-sacks,  and  hold 
just  heaps  and  heaps  !  " 

"  Oh,  I  thought  they  were  little  bags ! " 
And  Pokey  subsided  to  think  over  the  pros- 
pect of  filling  six  flour- sacks. 

Ten  minutes  passed  without  a  word  from 
either,  and  then  Denise  asked  suddenly : 

"  Pokey,  are  you  going  to  sleep  ?  " 

"No!"  —  promptly.  "I  am  just  as  wide 
awake  as  you  are,  and  am  lying  still  to  think 
about  the  fun  we  will  have  to-morrow.  I 
never  went  on  a  real  nutting-party  before, 
and  I  know  this  one  will  be  just  splendid ! " 

"  Of  course  it  will.  Everything  Mama 
thinks  out  is  splendid.  There  never  was  a 
better  mother  than  mine,  I  believe." 

"  No ;  I  don't  believe  there  ever  was," 
agreed  Pokey.  "  How  do  you  suppose  she 
ever  thinks  of  so  many  lovely  things  ?  " 

"I  asked  her  once,"  replied  Denise,  "and 


i32  DEMISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

what  do  you  suppose  she  told  me  ?  She 
said  that  way  down  in  one  corner  of  her 
heart  was  a  little  spot  that  was  all  mine,  and 
nobody  else  ever  got  into  that  particular  spot, 
not  even  Papa,  for  there  was  another  place 
that  was  his.  Well,  in  my  little  spot  lived 
two  tiny  fairies ;  one  was  the  play  fairy,  and 
the  other  one  was  the  wise  fairy.  The  wise 
fairy  kept  telling  her  just  what  was  best  for 
my  comfort,  and  how  to  take  care  of  me  and 
make  me  grow  up  a  sweet  little  gentlewo- 
man. The  play  fairy  put  all  the  bright  ideas 
into  her  head,  so  that  I  might  have  the  happi- 
est childhood  imaginable,  and  that  would  help 
the  wise  fairy's  work,  because  if  I  was  happy 
and  merry  all  the  time  it  would  be  much 
easier  for  the  wise  fairy  to  make  me  grow  up 
just  as  she  would  like  to  have  me. 

"  So  when  Mama  wants  some  extra  nice 
idea  she  just  goes  off  and  has  a  quiet  little 
talk  with  her  play  fairy,  who  has  never  failed 
to  help  her  when  she  wants  a  new  idea  for  a 
frolic. 

"Then,  you  see,  the  wise  fairy  is  happy 
too,  for  she  knows  that  the  pleasant  time  is 
my  reward  for  trying  to  be  what  she  wishes 
me  to  be." 


POKEY   HAS   A   DREAM  133 

"  I  think  that  is  as  sweet  as  any  fairy  story 
I  ever  read.  I  wish  my  mama  had  some 
fairies  too,"  said  Pokey. 

Then  both  lapsed  into  silence,  one  to  think 
sweet  thoughts  of  a  mother  whose  whole 
life  was  dedicated  to  her  little  daughter's 
physical,  mental,  and  moral  welfare  and  hap- 
piness, and  the  other  to  wonder  wherein  the 
difference  in  her  own  and  her  little  friend's 
life  lay,  feeling  it,  but  quite  incapable  of  de- 
fining it.  Sober  thoughts  for  little  people, 
and  not  conducive  to  insomnia. 

In  what,  to  Denise,  seemed  about  ten  min- 
utes, she  started  up,  realizing  that  she  must 
have  dozed  off.      Her  first  thought  was : 

"  I  wonder  if  Pokey  caught  me  going  to 
sleep  ?  How  she  will  laugh  at  me,  if  she  did!" 
.  "Pokey,"— softly. 

No  answer. 

"  Pokey  !  " —  a  little  louder. 

Still  silence,  broken  only  by  Beauty  But- 
tons, who  slept  on  a  rug  at  the  foot  of  the 
bed,  and  roused  up  enough  to  wag  his  tail. 

By  this  time  Denise  was  wide  awake,  and, 
reaching  over  to  shake  the  sleeping  Pokey, 
was  scared  nearly  out  of  her  wits  to  find  the 
bed  empty. 


134  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  Mercy  me  !  where  is  she  ?  "  cried  the  star- 
tled child,  and  bouncing  out  of  bed,  she 
rushed  to  turn  up  the  gas.  There  were  Po- 
key's clothes  upon  the  chair  where  she  had 
placed  them  upon  retiring,  but  no  sign  of 
their  owner  could  be  seen. 

Meanwhile  Beauty,  who  seemed  to  think  it 
a  good  joke,  had  jumped  up  from  his  rug  and 
ran  about  the  room,  wagging  his  tail  and  act- 
ing altogether  like  a  crazy  dog. 

"  Catch  them  !  Catch  them  !  Don't  you 
see  that  they  are  all  running  away  ? "  was 
shouted  in  muffled  tones  from  beneath  the 
bed.  And  then  came  a  bang  and  a  scream, 
as  Pokey  wakened  from  her  dream  of  hunt- 
ing in  the  leaves  for  nuts,  to  find  herself 
under  an  iron  bedstead,  against  which  she 
was  bumping  her  head  in  her  sleepy  en- 
deavors to  get  out. 

As  soon  as  the  true  state  of  affairs  had 
dawned  upon  Denise,  her  scare  vanished, 
and  seating  herself  in  the  middle  of  the 
floor,  she  laughed  until  she  could  n't  laugh 
any  more. 

In  came  Mama  to  learn  what  upon  earth 
had  happened,  and  to  find  Pokey  seated  upon 
the  edge  of  the  bed  trying  to  rub  the  sleep 


POKEY   HAS   A   DREAM  135 

out  of  her  eyes,  and  Denise  rolled  up  in  a 
little  heap  in  the  middle  of  the  rug. 

"  You  crazy  children!  What  are  you  doing 
at  this  hour  of  the  night  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Mama,  is  n't  it  just  too  funny?"  And 
Denise  went  off  into  another  fit  of  laughing. 

"Why,  you  see,"  explained  Pokey,  "I 
dreamed  that  we  were  'way  off  in  a  field, 
picking  up  nuts,  and  at  the  edge  of  the  field 
was  a  steep  bank,  and  all  the  nuts  were  roll- 
ing away  down  it.  So  I  went  down  to  catch 
them,  and  I  guess  I  must  have  crawled  out 
of  the  bed  instead,  for  I  don't  see  anything 
like  a  nut —  unless  it  is  this  lump  on  the  top 
of  my  head,"  she  added  ruefully,  as  she  rubbed 
a  big  bump. 

Mama  could  not  help  joining  in  the  laugh- 
ter; and  after  fetching  a  healing  lotion  and 
binding  up  Pokey's  bruises,  she  tucked  the 
children  safely  in  bed,  and  with  a  good-night 
kiss  for  each,  said  : 

"  Now  go  straight  to  sleep,  and  don't  think 
of  another  nut  till  daylight,  for  it  is  nearly 
two  o'clock." 

"Two  o'clock!"  echoed  Denise,  "and  I 
thought  I  'd  been  asleep  only  ten  minutes!" 

According  to  Denise's  method  of  reckoning 


136  DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

time,  another  ten  minutes  had  scarcely  passed 
when  she  was  awakened  by  a  bright  ray  of 
sunshine  falling  across  her  face. 

"Wake  up,  Pokey;  wake  up  this  minute!" 
she  shouted  to  the  sleepy  little  mortal  be- 
side her,  who  gradually  uncurled  herself. 

"Oh,  dear!  I  don't  believe  it  's  morning 
yet,  and  you  are  waking  me  up  to  laugh  at 
me,"  was  the  sleepy  reply. 

"  No,  I  'm  not,  either.  Just  look  at  the 
sunshine,  when  you  've  got  the  sandman  out 
of  your  eyes,  and  you  '11  see  that  it  is  morn- 
ing. So  hurry  up,  or  we  sha'n't  finish  break- 
fast before  the  others  get  here." 

Such  a  glorious  October  morning  !  It  was 
just  crisp  and  frosty  enough  to  make  one  feel 
frisky,  and  you  may  be  sure  that  no  time  was 
lost  in  getting  ready  for  breakfast. 

Soon  the  children  ran  out  of  their  room, 
one  to  receive  a  cheery  good-morning  greet- 
ing from  the  family,  and  the  other  tender 
birthday  wishes  and  many  pretty  gifts ;  for 
even  John  remembered  the  little  girl  who 
occasionally  made  life  a  burden  to  him,  and 
brought  as  his  offering  a  beautiful  pot  of 
white  chrysanthemums  which  he  had  watched 
and  tended  for  months. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A    NUTTING-PARTY 

LEVEN  years  old  to-day,"  said 
Denise,  in  a  sober  voice,  as  she  sat 
at  the  breakfast-table.  "  Just  think; 
I  've  been  in  this  world  eleven  whole  years ! 
Mama,  how  did  you  ever  get  on  before  I 
came  ?  You  must  have  been  very  lonely ; 
were  n't  you  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  you  are  so  essential  to  my 
happiness,  little  Miss  Conceit  ? "  asked  her 
mother,  jokingly. 

"  Well,  yes  ;  I  guess  that  I  am,  rather,"  said 
Denise,  positively,  "  for  you  once  said  that 
Papa  was  the  sun  and  I  the  sunbeams  in  your 
life,  and  people  are  dull  without  those,  are  n't 
they?" 

"  Yes,  darling,  we  need  both,  and  I  keep 
mine  very  close  at  hand,"  said  Mama,  with  a 
smile  and  happy  glance  from  sunny  little 
daughter  to  kind  husband. 

137 


138  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  Papa,"  cried  Denise,  a  moment  later, — for 
her  busy  tongue  must  keep  going  when  the 
brain  had  so  many  thoughts  pressing  for- 
ward,—  "I  wonder  how  old  Ned  is;  do  you 
know  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  I  can  tell  you  that  pampered 
young  creature's  age  ;  for  when  I  bought  him, 
one  year  ago,  he  was  seven  years  old." 

"Why,  he  is  only  eight  now!  I  thought 
he  must  surely  be  as  old  as  I." 

"  No,  indeed.  He  would  be  getting  pretty 
well  on,  even  for  a  Welsh  pony,  if  he  were 
eleven." 

Before  breakfast  was  finished,  shouts  and 
voices  outside  announced  the  arrival  of  the 
lads  and  lasses  who  were  to  complete  the 
party,  and  Denise  and  Pokey  rushed  out  to 
welcome  them. 

Presently  all  were  gathered  out  on  the  lawn 
to  watch  the  bestowal  in  the  surrey  of  some 
very  comfortable-looking  baskets  and  pack- 
ages, as  well  as  ropes,  bags,  and  little  baskets 
for  the  pickers. 

Ned,  harnessed  to  the  depot-wagon,  was 
quite  as  important  as  any  member  of  the 
party,  and  did  his  share  by  carrying  his  own 
and  Sunshine's  dinner,  halters,  and  blankets. 


A   NUTTING-PARTY  139 

In  less  time  than  one  would  have  thought 
it  possible  to  get  such  a  lively  party  in  order, 
the  whole  van  was  on  the  way,  the  girls  sing- 
ing, and  the  boys  romping  and  tearing  about 
as  only  boys  can.  Although  it  was  three 
miles  to  Sheppard's  Brook  Farm,  the  distance 
was  traveled  in  no  time. 

Ned  seemed  to  consider  it  a  party  made  up 
especially  for  him,  and  acted  altogether  like  a 
little  scalawag — tearing  along  on  a  dead^run 
as  the  boys  ran  beside  him,  scrambling  up  the 
hills  with  the  boys  helping  by  pushing,  and 
then  rushing  down  the  other  side  as  though 
determined  to  break  his  neck.  But  the  little 
Welshman  was  too  sure-footed  to  be  easily 
upset,  and  bounced  along  like  a  goat. 

Sailor  and  Beauty  were  permitted  to  join 
the  party ;  but  poor  Tan  had  been  compelled 
to  remain  behind,  although  he  blaated  most 
piteously  when  he  saw  them  start  off  without 
him. 

As  soon  as  the  big  fields  in  which  the  great 
shellbarks  grew  were  reached,  John  unhar- 
nessed Ned  and  turned  him  loose,  and  blanket- 
ing Sunshine,  fastened  him  to  a  neighboring 
tree.  For  Sunshine,  although  three  times  as 
big,  was  not  nearly  so  wise  as  little  Ned,  and 


140  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

would  soon  have  gone  prancing  off  if  left  to 
himself.  But  Ned  was  very  sociable,  and  still 
more  curious,  therefore  he  never  gotout  of  sight 
of  anything  unusual,  and  Denise's  whistle 
could  summon  him  in  an  instant.  So  while 
he  amused  himself  by  poking  his  inquisitive 
little  nose  into  every  corner  of  the  field,  the 
two-legged  picnickers  fell  to  work  with  a  will, 
and  soon  had  the  nuts  flying  in  all  directions. 

Never  was  day  so  lovely.  Never  were  nuts 
so  big  and  plentiful.  In  no  time  the  baskets 
were  filled  and  emptied  into  the  big  sacks  and 
ready  to  be  filled  again. 

All  joined  in,  and  while  John  and  the  boys 
thrashed  the  trees  with  long,  limber  poles, 
raining  nuts  on  anybody  who  happened  to  be 
beneath,  the  others  gathered  till  their  bended 
backs  ached. 

By  one  o'clock  all  were  ready  for  a  good, 
substantial  lunch,  and  Mama  and  Miss  Mere- 
dith proceeded  to  set  it  forth. 

I  should  n't  dare  tell  of  the  quantity  of  food 
consumed  that  day.  But  who  would  not  be 
hungry  after  three  hours'  lively  exercise  in  the 
delightful  October  sunshine  and  air?  All  sat 
or  sprawled  about  on  the  warm,  dry  grass, 
and  ate  or  drank  at  their  own  sweet  wills. 


THE    BIRTHDAY    PARTY   IN    THE    WOODS. 


A   NUTTING-PARTY  143 

Nobody  minded  an  interruption  in  the  shape 
of  Ned  marching  into  the  middle  of  the  table- 
cloth to  search  for  sugar,  or  Sailor  and  Beauty- 
making  a  foraging  expedition  for  sandwiches. 

After  luncheon  came  a  grand  rest  for  an 
hour,  during  which  all  talked  or  various  mem- 
bers of  the  party  told  stories. 

"  Papa,"  said  Denise,  "  I  am  just  as  old  to- 
day as  you  were  when  you  had  your  first 
coat-tails.  Do  tell  us  the  story  again.  It 
was  so  funny." 

"Oh,  yes;  do,  do!"  cried  all  the  others. 

Papa  laughed,  and  began  : 

"When  I  was  a  lad  I  lived  in  a  little  town 
on  Cape  Cod,  called  Truro.  We  were  a  long 
way  from  Boston,  and  there  were  no  railroads 
in  those  days  to  carry  us  back  and  forth.  But 
we  did  not  miss  them,  because  we  had  never 
known  what  it  was  to  have  such  things,  and 
were  well  satisfied  to  have  everything  brought 
down  from  Boston  by  packets,  as  the  boats 
sailing  between  Truro  and  Boston  were  called. 

"  My  mother,  brother,  and  myself  lived  in  a 
big  house  which  stood  high  on  a  hill,  and 
from  it  we  could  watch  for  the  coming  of  the 
packet,  and  also  for  my  father's  ship ;  for  he 
was  a  sea-captain,  and  used  to  sail  on  long 


144  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

voyages  which  often  kept  him  from  home  a 
year  or  more  at  a  time. 

"  Father  had  sailed  from  home  in  March, 
and  when  he  left  us  he  said  to  me :  '  Now, 
my  boy,  when  I  get  back  in  September  you 
will  be  eleven  years  old ;  and  if  I  get  good 
reports  of  you  in  Mother's  letters  I  shall  bring 
with  me  your  first  coat-tails,  at  the  end  of  a 
jacket  with  brass  buttons.' 

"'And  long  trousers,  too?'  I  asked,  for  it 
was  the  fashion  in  those  days  for  boys  to  wear 
short  jackets  and  breeches  until  they  were 
about  ten  or  eleven,  and  then  they  could  dress 
like  their  fathers  ;  and  you  may  be  sure  the 
first  coat-tails  were  longed  for  with  as  much 
eagerness  as  the  first  long  trousers  are  to-day," 
said  Papa,  with  a  nod  at  the  lads  before  him. 

"  '  Yes ;  the  trousers  too,  all  complete,  on 
one  condition,'  said  he. 

"  '  And  what  is  that  ?  '  I  asked  eagerly. 

"  'That  you  keep  Mother's  wood-box  well 
filled,'  was  the  answer. 

"  That  seemed  an  easy  thing  to  do,  and  so 
I  promised  very  readily. 

"  So  Father  sailed,  and  I  counted  the  days 
which  must  pass  before  August,  when  I 
should  be  eleven  years  old. 


A  NUTTING-PARTY  145 

"  Meanwhile  the  wood-box  was  kept  filled, 
and  Mother's  reports  were  good. 

"  At  last,  August  7,  my  birthday  came,  and 
Mother  wrote  a  letter  to  Father  which  would 
reach  him  in  Boston,  where  he  was  expected 
to  arrive  the  1st  of  September.  She  gave 
him  my  measure,  and  nothing  remained  but 
to  keep  my  impatience  bottled  up  till  the  1st 
of  September,  when  he  should  be  at  home. 

"He  came  four  days  sooner  than  we  ex- 
pected him,  and  the  new  suit  with  him.  I  tell 
you  it  was  superb  !  It  was  dark-green  cloth, 
and  had  satin  facings  and  gilt  buttons. 
Then  there  was  a  stock  and  frilled  shirt,  just 
like  Father's,  and  the  hat  and  shoes  to  com- 
plete it  all. 

"You  may  be  sure  I  lost  no  time  in  get- 
ting into  it,  and  it  was  pronounced  simply 
stunning. 

"Fathers  arrival  was  a  great  event  in  the 
family,  and  that  evening  all  the  aunts,  uncles, 
and  cousins  came  to  tea  to  welcome  him,  and 
the  best  parlor  was  made  ready  and  a  rous- 
ing fire  built  in  the  big  open  Franklin  stove. 

"  My  logs  of  wood  snapped  and  sparkled, 
and  we  youngsters  had  great  fun  roasting 
apples  and  chestnuts  in  front  of  them. 


146  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  I,  in  my  swell  suit,  was  the  '  biggest  toad 
in  the  puddle,'  and  paraded  up  and  down  be- 
fore the  admiring  eyes  of  the  other  children. 
At  last,  growing  conscious  of  the  tight  new 
shoes,  I  chose  a  novel  place  in  which  to  rest 
myself  and  relieve  my  feet  of  the  burden  of 
my  body.  I  sat  down  on  the  fender  of  the 
Franklin,  and  was  so  absorbed  in  caring  for 
my  weary  feet  that  I  utterly  forgot  that  I  was 
the  owner  of  coat-tails,  and  left  them  to  take 
care  of  themselves. 

"  Pretty  soon  Mother  turned  round  and  said 
excitedly : 

"'I  smell  wool  burning.  What  on  earth 
is  it  ? '  and  then  she  caught  sight  of  me. 

"'Lewis  Lombard!  Are  you  stark  mad? 
Your  whole  back  is  afire  ! ' 

"I  sprang  up,  but  the  coat-tails  remained 
behind  —  a  charred,  blackened  heap.  Mother 
tore  off  what  remained  of  the  coat,  and  the 
danger  was  soon  over;  but  I  was  the  most 
unhappy  boy  in  Truro  that  night,  and  have 
never  heard  the  last  of  my  first  coat-tails  to 
this  day,"  said  Papa,  as  he  finished  the  story 
amid  shouts  of  laughter  from  the  children. 

After  the  laugh  had  subsided,  Papa  said  it 
was  high  time  to  attack  the  chestnut-trees  in 


A  NUTTING-PARTY  147 

the  adjoining  field,  and  all  fell  to  work  again 
with  a  will. 

By  four  o'clock  six  big  bags  had  been  filled 
with  chestnuts  and  hickory-nuts,  with  a  few 
hazels  thrown  in  for  variety,  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  nutting-party  were  glad  to  prepare 
for  the  homeward  ride,  leaving  the  bags  to 
the  care  of  the  farm-hands,  who  promised  to 
take  them  over  the  mountain  early  Monday 
morning. 

So  Ned  and  Sunshine  were  harnessed,  and 
while  John  went  to  the  farm-house  to  thank 
Mr.  Sheppard  for  his  hospitality  and  the  nuts, 
Papa  packed  away  the  belongings  and  col- 
lected his  party. 

Such  a  jolly,  tired  crowd  as  walked,  rode, 
or  "  cut  behind,"  as  they  went  over  the  moun- 
tain toward  supper  and  bed,  which  all  felt 
would  be  welcome  ! 

But,  alas  !  Pokey  had  to  prove  that  "there  's 
many  a  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip." 


CHAPTER   XVII 

POKEY    TRIES    TO    STUDY    BOTANY 

IHE  road  wound  up  the  mountain,  in 
and  out,  up  and  down,  sometimes 
through  deep  woods,  and  then  down 
into  little  valleys,  -where  a  brook  trickled  be- 
neath thick  ferns  which  nearly  hid  it  from 
view,  and  in  many  such  spots  it  was  decidedly 
boggy. 

The  summit  of  the  mountain  was  gained 
and  the  descent  begun  when  just  such  a  spot 
was  reached. 

Pokey  was  walking,  and,  as  usual,  was  con- 
siderably behind  all  the  others,  when  she  was 
seized  with  a  desire  to  gather  a  beautiful  wild 
flower  which  grew  a  little  way  in  the  woods. 

Never  stopping  to  consider  the  wisdom  of 
the  step,  or  ask  a  question,  she  stepped 
straight  off  the  road,  and  found  herself  up  to 
her  knees  in  a  bog  which  the  ferns  had 
wholly  concealed. 

148 


POKEY   TRIES   TO    STUDY    BOTANY  149 

Her  screams  caused  the  occupants  of  the 
surrey  —  which  by  this  time  had  gotten  well 
ahead  —  to  turn  round  and  behold  Pokey 
floundering  about  and  getting  deeper  and 
deeper  every  instant.  In  about  half  a  minute 
John  had  her  on  firm  ground,  but  a  spectacle 
to  behold. 

Frightened  as  they  were,  the  children  could 
not  help  shouting  at  the  forlorn  object  before 
them,  for  certainly  poor  Pokey  was  as  muddy 
a  little  girl  as  one  could  conceive  of. 

"  Ugh  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  feel  just  like  a 
frog,  and  I  do  believe  I  should  have  gone 
right  down  to  China  if  John  had  n't  fished 
me  out ! " 

Soaking  and  muddy,  she  was  rolled  in  Sun- 
shine's blanket  and  put  into  the  surrey,  to 
be  driven  home  as  quickly  as  possible,  while 
John  remained  behind  to  look  after  the  rest 
of  the  party,  and  finish  his  homeward  journey 
on  foot. 

By  the  time  they  reached  home  Pokey  had 
been  scraped,  and  was  ready  to  welcome 
them  with  her  imperturbable  good  nature. 

Soon  the  baskets  and  various  traps  were 
disposed  of,  Ned  led  off  to  the  stable,  the 
"  good  nights "  said,  and  the  extra  members 


150  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

of  the  party  departed,  singing  at  the  top  of 
their  lungs: 

"  Miss  Pokey  wanted  a  posy,  oh ! 

Heigh-ho,  Miss  Pokey! 
And  after  it  she  had  to  go, 
And  souse  into  the  bog  —  oh !  oh ! 
Up  to  her  knees  she  went,  you  know, 
And  John  he  pulled  her  out  just  so. 

Heigh-ho,  Miss  Pokey!" 

to  the  tune  of  "  A  Frog  He  Would  A-wooing 
Go." 

"  Pokey,"  asked  Denise,  a  few  hours  later, 
when  the  family  was  seated  around  the  cheer- 
ful log  fire,  "  what  do  you  think  you  will 
dream  of  to-night?" 

"  Nothing,  I  hope  ! "  was  the  quick  reply, 
"  for  if  I  did,  I  'm  afraid  it  would  be  about 
getting  stuck  in  bogs." 

"  I  trust  that  your  dream  might  not  be  as 
real  as  one  my  brother  once  had,"  said  Mama. 

"  Do  tell  about  it,"  begged  Pokey,  who 
dearly  loved  a  fireside  tale. 

"  It  was  a  great  many  years  ago,  when  I 
was  a  young  girl.  Charley  and  I  used  to  go 
every  summer  to  spend  a  few  weeks  with 
Grandfather,  who  lived  on  a  large  farm  in 
the  central  part  of  New  York  State. 


POKEY   TRIES   TO   STUDY   BOTANY  151 

"  It  was  an  immense  place,  and  he  had  any 
number  of  horses,  cows,  and  all  sorts  of  farm 
stock. 

"  One  afternoon  Charley  and  I  had  been 
rambling  through  the  fields,  when  we  came  to 
a  large  pasture,  where  a  beautiful  Holstein 
bull  was  feeding.  We  looked  at  him  over 
the  bars,  but  kept  at  a  respectful  distance,  as 
we  did  not  know  what  manner  of  beastie  he 
might  be.  Charley  was  much  struck  with 
him,  and  but  for  me  would  have  gone  straight 
into  the  field. 

"When  we  got  home  we  asked  Grand- 
father about  him,  and  he  told  us  that  he  was 
a  very  valuable  animal,  but  not  an  amiable 
one,  and  for  that  very  reason  he  kept  him  in 
that  distant  pasture  and  behind  a  stout  paling, 
and  it  was  lucky  for  Charley  that  he  had 
stopped  outside. 

"  No  more  was  thought  of  it ;  but  that 
night,  at  about  two  o'clock,  I  was  wakened 
by  something  falling  upon  the  floor  in  front 
of  my  door. 

"  I  jumped  out  of  bed,  and  looked  out  in 
the  hall,  but  failed  to  discover  the  cause. 

"  It  was  a  beautiful  moonlight  night,  but 
the  hall   was  dark.     I   slipped  back  to   my 


152  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

room  and  lighted  my  candle,  for  I  felt  sure 
something  must  be  wrong." 

"  What  was  it  —  thieves  ?  "  asked  Pokey, 
breathlessly. 

"No,"  said  Mama,  laughing;  "only  a  shoe. 
There  it  lay  in  the  hall.  But  in  an  instant  it 
flashed  upon  me  that  it  was  Charley's. 

"  Then  I  knew  what  the  matter  was.  He 
was  walking  in  his  sleep,  as  he  sometimes  did 
at  home.  Rushing  back  to  my  room,  I  scrab- 
bled on  my  shoes  and  stockings  and  some 
clothes,  and  then  flew  to  Grandfather's  door, 
crying :  '  Grandfather  !  Grandfather !  Wake 
up,  quick  !  Charley  is  walking  in  his  sleep.' 
In  about  two  minutes,  which  seemed  two 
hours  to  me,  Grandfather  came  out  of  his 
room,  dressed  in  trousers,  dressing-gown,  and 
slippers,  and  off  we  started  —  down-stairs  to 
the  lower  floor,  where  we  found  the  kitchen 
door  wide  open,  which  told  us  he  had  gone 
that  wray ;  and  out  on  the  grass  lay  his  sock, 
where  he  had  dropped  it. 

"  In  one  second  it  came  upon  me  that 
Charley  had  gone  off  to  see  his  Holstein 
bull,  for  we  had  come  home  by  the  fields  and 
across  this  very  lawn;  and  my  heart  nearly 
stood  still  when  I  thought  of  it. 


POKEY   TRIES   TO   STUDY    BOTANY  153 

"  I  told  my  fears  to  Grandfather,  who  said : 
'  Bless  us  and  save  us !  I  hope  not.  That 
beast  is  not  a  pleasant  creature  in  the  day- 
time, let  alone  at  night.' 

"The  moonlight  shone  brightly,  and  it  was 
almost  as  light  as  day  as  we  approached  the 
pasture. 

"  On  the  ground  at  our  feet  lay  a  white 
object,  which  proved  to  be  Charley's  hand- 
kerchief, and  left  us  no  doubt  as  to  his  er- 
rand. The  next  instant  we  beheld  a  sight 
which  simply  held  us  spellbound.  The 
whole  pasture  lay  plainly  before  us,  bathed 
in  the  clear  moonlight ;  and  flying  across  it, 
with  the  great  bull  in  hot  pursuit,  was  Char- 
ley, barefooted,  in  his  night-shirt  and  hat. 

"Never  before  had  he  gone  at  such  a  rate 
of  speed,  and  how  he  ever  managed  to  fly 
over  the  ground  as  he  did  that  night  we 
never  could  guess. 

"  But  the  bull  gained  upon  him  at  every 
step,  and  but  for  a  very  miracle  he  must  have 
been  killed.  At  the  critical  moment  his  hat 
flew  off,  almost  into  the  animal's  face,  which 
he  seemed  to  resent  as  an  open  insult ;  so 
turning  his  wrath  upon  that,  he  stopped  to 
stamp  it  into  shreds.     That  was  just  enough 


154  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

to  save  Charley,  for  he  reached  the  paling, 
flung  himself  over  it  and  into  a  ditch  at  the 
farther  side.  There  he  lay,  too  frightened  to 
move,  for  until  he  had  stepped  into  a  puddle 
of  water  while  in  the  field  he  had  not  been 
aware  of  his  terrible  danger.  That  awak- 
ened him,   and  he  then  fled  for  his  life. 

"  When  we  got  to  him  he  was  the  most 
startled  boy  you  ever  heard  of,  and  although 
sixteen  years  old,  and  a  stout,  big  fellow,  he 
was  as  weak  and  shaky  as  a  little  kitten." 

"  Oh,"  said  Pokey,  when  the  tale  ended,  "  I 
believe  I  should  have  gone  dead  right  off! 
Did  he  ever  walk  in  his  sleep  again  ?  " 

"  Yes,  many  times,  but  never  after  that  got 
into  such  a  scrape.  And  now,  off  to  bed,  but 
no  dreams  !  " 


CHAPTER   XVIII 


THE    "CHAPEL 


S  though  Dame  Nature  had  a  tender 
spot  in  her  heart  for  the  city  child 
who  so  rarely  had  an  opportunity 
of  enjoying  the  lovely  things  she  had  ready 
to  show  her,  Sunday  was,  if  possible,  even 
more  delightful  a  day  than  Saturday  had 
been. 

It  was  one  of  those  still,  dreamy  days  that 
come  to  us  about  the  middle  of  October,  when 
Nature  seems  resting  from  her  work  of  the 
past  months,  when  she  has  been  so  busy 
making  and  bringing  her  works  to  perfection. 
It  was  a  yellow,  mellow  day,  steeped  in  a 
rich  golden  haze  which  hung  over  mountains, 
river,  and  valley,  and  made  the  Tarrytown 
hills  beautifully   soft  in   outline. 

The  Tappan  Zee  lay  like  a  mirror,  which 
plainly  reflected  the  various  craft  idly  floating 
upon  it.     Scarcely  a  breath  of  air  stirred,  and 

155 


156  DEN1SE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

indeed  a  perfect  Sabbath  stillness  rested  upon 
all  things. 

"I  don't  see  how  any  one  could  do  or  think 
a  bad  thing  to-day,"  said  Denise,  as  she  and 
Pokey  walked  home  from  Sunday-school  at 
eleven  o'clock. 

"It  seems  to  me,"  she  continued,  "that  on 
such  a  perfect  day  as  this  everybody  ought  to 
feel  thankful  to  be  alive,  and  I  guess  God 
sends  such  days  to  make  us  try  all  the  harder 
to  be  good  " —  for  she  was  quick  to  feel  the 
beautiful,  and  benefit  by  it. 

"  I  wish  I  lived  in  the  country,"  said  little- 
Pokey,  wistfully.  "  Sometimes  I  get  so  hun- 
gry for  a  piece  of  it  that  I  don't  know  how 
to  live  without  it.  I  just  feel  as  though  I  could 
run  away,  and  never  see  the  city  again." 

"  I  wish  you  did  live  here,"  answered  De- 
nise, heartily.  "Would  n't  we  have  gay 
times  ?  Never  mind  ;  you  must  come  just  as 
often  as  ever  you  can,  and  have  half  of  all  my 
nice  times  and  good  things.  You  know,  it 's 
a  great  deal  nicer  if  some  one  goes  halves." 

"  I  should  think  I  did  go  halves  now. 
Why,  I  come  so  often,  and  get  so  many 
pretty  things  every  time,  that  Mama  says  I  'd 
better  live  here  altogether.     I  wonder  why  it 


THE    "CHAPEL"  157 

is  you  are  all  so  nice  to  me,"  said  Pokey,  in- 
nocently, wholly  unconscious  of  her  many  win- 
some qualities  and  of  the  affectionate  nature 
that  endeared  her  to  all. 

"Why,  we  are  nice  to  you  because  we  all 
love  you ;  and  Mama  says  that  if  we  would 
always  remember  to  '  do  unto  others  as  we 
would  be  done  by,'  we  would  never  be  un- 
happy, and  could  make  everybody  happy 
too." 

"  I  wish  you  would  ask  Mr.  Papa  to  go  up 
to  the  Chapel  this  afternoon.  I  do  so  love 
to  go  there.  It  is  so  quiet  and  sort  of  peace- 
ful that  it  makes  me  t  feel  good  all  over,  and 
as  though  I  never  could  get  cross  any  more." 

"  Of  course  I  will.  It  is  so  warm  that  it 
will  be  just  lovely  there  this  afternoon,  and  I 
guess  Mama  and  Miss  Meredith  will  go  too. 
We  will  take  a  nice  book,  and  ask  Miss 
Meredith  to  read  aloud.  She  is  so  kind 
that  she  never  minds  reading  a  bit,  and  her 
voice  is  so  soft  and  sweet  that  it  's  just  like 
little  bells." 

The  "  Chapel  "  was  a  charming  spot  about 
a  third  of  the  way  up  the  mountain,  just 
where  the  open  fields  ended  and  the  dense 
woods  began.     From  it  an  uninterrupted  view 


158  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

of  miles  lay  before  one,  for  the  brushwood 
had  been  cut  away,  and  the  great  forest-trees 
formed  a  lovely  framework  for  the  picture. 

Just  within  the  wood  rustic  seats  and  tables 
had  been  made,  hammocks  swung,  and  cozy 
nests  constructed  of  moss  and  branches,  so 
that  almost  anybody  could  be  comfortably 
bestowed. 

Prettily  carved  around  the  top  of  the  big 
rustic  table,  which  formed  the  very  central 
point  of  the  Chapel,  was  the  quotation  :  "■  The 
woods  were  God's  first  temples."  A  delight- 
fully cool,  restful  spot  in  which  to  spend  a 
quiet  Sabbath  afternoon,  after  the  hurry  and 
cares  of  the  week,  and  an  excellent  place  in 
which  to  lay  wise  plans  for  the  coming  one. 

Nearly  every  Sunday  afternoon,  when  the 
weather  permitted,  the  family  betook  them- 
selves thither  to  read,  write  letters,  talk, 
dream,  or  drowse,  as  the  fancy  prompted. 
No  wonder  that  Pokey,  whose  brain  was  so 
wearied  with  weeks  of  helter-skelter  study 
that  she  did  n't  know  whether  nine  times  nine 
were  eighty-one  or  eight  hundred,  longed  for 
this  peaceful  spot. 

So,  directly  dinner  was  ended,  all  armed 
themselves  with  climbing- staffs  and    started 


THE    "CHAPEL"  161 

for  the  Chapel,  Tan,  Ned,  Sailor,  and  Beauty 
following  or  leading-,  as  the  notion  took  them; 
for  they  always  went  with  the  rest,  and 
needed  no  leaders,  being  only  too  ready  to 
go  with  their  beloved  little  mistress  to  the 
very  ends  of  the  earth,  should  her  fancy  lead 
her  that  way. 

Pokey  stood  in  respectful  awe  of  Denise's 
children,  and  kept  close  beside  Miss  Mere- 
dith, who  laughingly  said  it  was  the  book 
she  carried  which  made  Pokey  so  devoted 
to   her. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  reach  the  Chapel, 
and  once  there,  Sailor  and  Beauty  stretched 
themselves  on  the  dry,  warm  earth  for  a 
snooze;  but  Ned  and  Tan  thought  it  better 
fun  to  poke  about  in  the  woods,  one  to  eat 
leaves  and  bark,  and  the  other  to  nibble 
daintily  at  the  straggling  wood-grasses. 

After  much  plumping  and  arranging  of  pil- 
lows,—  with  which  each  had  come  so  well 
provided  that  a  neighbor  who  saw  them  start 
asked  if  they  were  playing  at  "  Pilgrim's 
Progress,"  like  Miss  Alcott's  heroines, —  all 
settled  down  for  a  luxurious  rest. 

"  Now,  Miss  Meredith,  please  turn  Ichabod 
Crane  loose,  and  let  him  roam  about  hill  and 


162  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

dale ;  for  this  is  an  ideal  spot  for  him,  and 
Pokey  looks  as  though  she  were  positively 
suffering  in  her  impatience  to  meet  him,"  said 
Mama,  when  all  were  comfortably  settled,  she 
in  one  big  chair,  and  Miss  Meredith  in  an- 
other, with  plenty  of  cushions  to  make  them 
comfortable.  Papa  stretched  in  one  hammock, 
Pokey  and  Denise  swinging  in  another. 

So  Miss  Meredith  began :  "  In  the  bosom 
of  one  of  those  spacious  coves  which  indent 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  Hudson,"  —  and  soon 
had  carried  her  good  friends  straight  across 
the  glassy  river  and  into  the  Sleepy  Hollow 
which  could  be  seen  so  plainly  from  their 
lovely  outlook. 

Pokey  sat  breathless,  lost  to  everything  but 
Ichabod  and  his  pursuer,  till  the  tale  was 
ended,  and  then  said  in  a  serious  way  which 
convulsed  her  hearers : 

"  Did  they  ever  catch  the  real  Hessian  ?  I 
don't  mean  the  pumpkin  one." 

"They  had  n't  done  so  at  last  reports,"  an- 
swered Papa,  "  and  I  should  n't  wonder  if  he 
was  still  on  the  rampage." 

"  Let  's  have  a  swing,"  said  Denise,  pres- 
ently, after  Pokey  had  digested  and  pondered 
over  Papa's  reply ;  for  she  had  sat  still  as  long 


THE    "CHAPEL"  163 

as  it  was  possible  for  her,  and  longed  for 
some  motion  to  act  as  safety-valve.  "  You 
sit  still,  and  I  '11  get  the  hammock  swinging 
real  high,  and  then  sit  in  it  as  it  swings  back, 
just  as  I  've  seen  Papa  step  into  a  rowboat 
after  he  pushes  it  off." 

This  being  successfully  accomplished,  they 
enjoyed  a  swing  of  about  five  minutes,  when 
"the  old  cat"  began  to  "die,"  and  the  opera- 
tion had  to  be  repeated. 

Denise  had  served  her  turn  four  or  five 
times,  when  Pokey  thought  it  only  right  that 
she  should  supply  the  motive  power,  and  said 
to  Denise : 

"  Now  you  sit  still  this  time,  and  I  '11  give 
you  a  good  one." 

"Take  care  you  don't  make  it  too  good, 
and  spill  us  both  out." 

"  Now  don't  you  suppose  I  can  do  it  just 
as  well  as  you  can,  when  I  've  seen  you  do  it 
four  times  ?  "  demanded  Pokey. 

"  Well,  be  careful,  anyhow,"  was  the  warn- 
ing given. 

Up  she  hopped,  and  soon  had  the  ham- 
mock swinging  at  a  wild  rate ;  but,  alas ! 
Pokey's  idea  of  philosophy,  natural  science, 
the  center  of  gravity,  or  whatever  it  is  that 


164  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

keeps  hammocks  right  side  up,  was  not  as 
keen  as  Denise's.  Instead  of  getting  into  the 
hammock  as  it  swung  backward,  she  stood 
stock-still,  back  to  it,  as  it  swung  forward, 
and  then,  jumping  up,  tried  to  sit  in  it  as  it 
swung  tinder  her.  Unfortunately,  not  having 
eyes  in  the  back  of  her  head,  she  could  not 
gage  the  distance  correctly,  and  instead  of 
sitting  into  it,  she  sat  completely  over  it, 
thereby  instantly  turning  it  bottom  side  up, 
and  landing  herself  and  Denise  in  such  a  pro- 
miscuous heap  that  it  was  difficult  to  tell  their 
heads  from  their  feet  when  Papa  rushed  to 
the  rescue. 

"Oh,  Denise,  Denise!  are  you  dead?" 
came  in  imploring  accents  from  one  part  of 
the  heap. 

Denise  was  not  dead,  by  any  means,  only 
decidedly  mussed  and  shaken  up  by  the  sud- 
den somersault. 

Tan  had  been  so  startled  by  the  spectacle 
that  he  jumped  about  a  foot  straight  up  into 
the  air,  and  then  stood  with  ears  and  tail 
erect,  and  blaated  like  a  distracted  thing; 
Ned  stampeded  to  a  safe  distance,  and  then 
stood  regarding  such  frivolous  conduct  in  a 
way  which  clearly  indicated  his  disgust ;  while 


THE   "CHAPEL"  165 

Sailor  and  Beauty  barked  as  though  set  upon 
by  thieves,  and  it  rested  with  them  to  rouse 
the  town. 

Peace  was  restored,  however,  and  then  it 
was  decided  that  the  homeward  walk  must  be 
begun,  for  the  afternoon  was  beginning  to  tell 
that  an  October  evening  was  nearly  upon 
them. 

Monday  morning  carried  Pokey  back  to 
town,  consoled  only  by  the  thought  that  at 
least  a  bushel  of  nuts  would  speedily  follow 
her,  and  that  she  was  already  invited  for  the 
Christmas  holidays. 


CHAPTER   XIX 


ANXIOUS    HOURS 


FEW  days  after  Pokey's  departure, 
Denise,  coming  into  her  mother's 
room  after  an  afternoon's  ramble  on 
Ned,  found  her  lying  upon  her  couch  and 
complaining  of  headache. 

V  Poor  Moddie  !  let  me  sit  here  and  smooth 
the  ache  away,"  said  she,  crawling  up  to  the 
top  of  the  couch,  and  taking  her  mother's 
head  in  her  lap.  "  See ;  I  '11  smooth  all  the 
little  knotty  kinks  out,  and  then  the  ache  will 
go  away." 

But  even  the  gentle  touch  failed  to  dispel 
the  ache,  which  seemed  to  grow  worse  as 
evening  approached ;  and  although  Denise 
had  sat  "pooring"  for  more  than  an  hour, 
Mama's  eyes  grew  duller  and  duller,  and  the 
poor  head  throbbed  the  harder. 

At  last  she  fell  into  a  restless  sleep,  and, 
placing   her   comfortably   upon    the    pillows, 

1 66 


ANXIOUS   HOURS  167 

Denise  went  in  search  of  Grandma,  filled 
with  an  indefinable  sort  of  anxiety,  as  of 
something  distressing  about  to  come  upon 
her. 

Going  into  her  grandmother's  room,  she 
said :  "  Grandma,  won't  you  come  and  look 
at  Mama?  I  am  afraid  she  is  quite  ill,  for 
I  've  been  with  her  more  than  an  hour,  and 
she  does  n't  seem  a  bit  like  herself." 

Instantly  Grandma  was  ready  to  follow, 
and  she  and  Denise  went  quickly  back  to 
Mama's  room. 

By  this  time  a  decided  change  had  taken 
place,  and  Grandma  noticed  with  serious 
alarm  that,  although  apparently  asleep,  the 
sleep  was  far  from  being  a  restful  one,  and 
Mama  had  a  high  fever.  Not  wishing  to 
frighten  Denise,  she  said:  "I  wish,  dearie, 
you  would  step  down  and  ask  John  to  saddle 
Flash  and  go  for  Dr.  Swift.  Such  a  severe 
headache  as  Mama's  ought  to  be  relieved  at 
once." 

Noiselessly  Denise  flew  down  the  stairs, 

and  in  a  few  moments  John  had  started;  for 

the  good  man  was  always  ready  to  speed  at 

the  need  of  the  mistress  to  whom  he,  as  well 

as  the  other  servants,  was  sincerely  attached. 
10 


168  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Meanwhile  Denise  had  gone  to  her  room  to 
put  on  her  softest  slippers,  and  then  returned 
to  Mama,  whom  Grandma  and  Mary  were  al- 
ready preparing  for  her  bed.  Denise  flitted 
about,  arranging  the  pillows,  filling  the  hot- 
water  bags,  and  helping  like  any  little  nurse ; 
for  she  had  a  wise  little  head  on  her  frisky 
body,  and  her  love  for  her  mother  seemed  to 
suggest  the  things  which  would  make  her 
most  comfortable.  John  was  not  long  in  fetch- 
ing Dr.  Swift,  who  looked  very  serious  as  he 
put  question  after  question  to  Grandma. 

Denise  stood  by  with  an  anxious  little  face, 
seeming  to  beg  an  encouraging  word ;  but 
none  came,  and  Dr.  Swift  took  his  departure, 
after  ordering  perfect  quiet  and  careful  atten- 
tion to  his  directions. 

As  he  was  about  to  get  into  his  carriage, 
Denise  caught  his  hand,  and  said:  "Dr. 
Swift,  please  tell  me  if  Mama  is  going  to  be 
very  sick." 

"That  is  more  than  I  can  say,  little  girl; 
but  you  must  trust  to  Dr.  Swift  to  bring  her 
through  safely,  if  the  good  Lord  will  let  him," 
said  the  kind  doctor,  with  a  pat  on  Denise's 
upturned  face. 

When  Papa  returned  at  six  o'clock  he  took 


*. 


I 


ANXIOUS   HOURS  171 

matters  in  hand  at  once,  and  a  telegram  was 
soon  speeding  on  its  way  to  Aunt  Helen, 
asking  her  to  come  immediately,  and  fetch 
with  her  a  trained  nurse. 

At  midnight  Denise  was  wakened  by 
Auntie's  kiss,  and  putting  up  her  arms,  she 
hugged  her  close,  and  begged  her  to  take 
good  care  of  Mama. 

Auntie  needed  no  urging,  and  at  once  the 
care  of  the  household  fell  to  her  share,  while 
Grandma  and  the  nurse  devoted  themselves 
to  the  invalid. 

The  next  morning  all  realized  how  ill  she 
was,  and  for  many  days  the  doctor  came  and 
went  without  being  able  to  give  much  en- 
couragement, or  conquer  the  obstinate  fever, 
which  was  doing  its  best  to  change  Mama  into 
a  mere  shadow. 

To  Denise  the  days  seemed  the  longest  she 
had  ever  known ;  for  she  tried  to  be  brave 
and  to  keep  her  fears  to  herself,  lest  she  give  an 
added  care  to  those  who  already  had  so  many. 

It  seemed  to  her  as  though  she  lived  in  a 
sort  of  nightmare,  and  could  not  get  awake. 
The  house  was  very  still,  the  parlors  and 
library  deserted,  and  even  the  door-bell  was 
silenced,   for  a  maid  anticipated  every  ring, 


172  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

and  gave  word  of  the  invalid's  condition  to  the 
many  who  came  with  kind  inquiries  or  offers 
of  assistance. 

Gentle  Miss  Meredith  had  not  the  heart  to 
force  the  lessons,  for  she  saw  very  plainly  that 
Denise's  mind  was  too  much  tossed  about  to 
study,  and  so  she  determined  to  let  the  tasks 
wait,  and  meanwhile  try  to  help  the  unhappy 
child  by  reading  with  her  such  books  as  might 
help  her  forget,  and  yet  would  put  new  ideas 
in  the  little  head,  which  later  would  profit 
thereby. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  Ned  was  her  best 
consoler  during  these  dark  days.  She  had 
no  heart  to  ride  or  drive  him,  but  would  go 
off  and  sit  on  the  ground  under  the  trees, 
with  Ned  cuddling  beside  her  like  a  huge 
dog,  and  with  his  head  held  close  in  her  lap 
she  would  talk  to  him  as  though  he  were  a 
human  creature  and  could  understand  all  she 
said. 

Many  a  bitter  tear  fell  upon  his  shaggy 
mane  as  Denise  held  him  close  and  sobbed 
out  her  grief. 

Sitting  thus  on  one  of  the  soft  October  af- 
ternoons when  all  was  so  still,  she  said : 
"  Little  Toodledums,  do  you  know  how  sick 


ANXIOUS    HOURS  173 

Mama  is  ?  God  did  n't  give  you  a  voice  to 
speak  with,  but  I  know  you  think  and  love, 
and  maybe  you  know  more  than  I  do,  after 
all." 

A  soft  neigh  answered  her,  and  accepting 
it  as  a  reply,  she  continued:  "Toodledums, 
Mama  may  go  away  from  us,  and  never 
come  back  any  more,  and  whatever,  ever 
should  we  do  without  her?  Do  animals  have 
any  way  of  asking  God  to  help  them  ?  Can't 
you  tell  me,  when  you  know  I  love  you  so 
dearly  ?  I  don't  think  he  would  put  creatures 
in  this  big  lovely  world,  and  not  let  them  tell 
him  how  much  they  loved  him  and  enjoyed 
being  here.  So  if  you  can  do  so,  you  must 
ask  him  to  make  Mama  well  again." 

The  soft  brown  eyes  looked  at  her  with 
almost  human  intelligence,  and  it  was  small 
wonder  that  the  little  girl,  who  loved  her  pet 
so  dearly,  should  be  tempted  to  believe  that 
between  him  and  his  Creator  there  should  be 
some  power  of  communication  of  which  we 
human  creatures  know  naught. 

Just  then  the  doctor's  carriage  came  to  the 
door,  and  she  flew  to  hear  the  report  he  had 
to  give  on  his  return  from  the  sick-room.  He 
stayed  longer  than  usual,  and  when  he  came 


174  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

out  said  to  Mr.  Lombard :  "  Yes,  you  may 
telegraph  for  Dr.  Burton,  for  I  believe  a  con- 
sultation to  be  best." 

Neither  noticed  the  little  girl  behind  the 
screen,  but  directly  the  doctor  had  gone  she 
came  out,  and  taking  her  father's  hand,  said, 
"  Papa,  is  Mama  worse  ? "  and  hid  her  face  in 
his  coat. 

Her  father  gathered  her  in  his  arms,  say- 
ing:  "We  fear  so,  little  one,  and  to-night 
must  decide  it  all  for  us." 

She  made  no  sound,  but  her  quivering  body 
told  her  anguish. 

The  house  knew  no  rest  that  night,  for  at 
ten  o'clock  the  great  doctor  came  from  town, 
and  he  and  Dr.  Swift  talked  long  and 
earnestly. 

The  hours  crept  slowly  on,  and  the  house 
was  so  still  that  Denise  could  plainly  hear  the 
great  hall  clock  ticking,  and  now  and  again  a 
low  moan  that  nearly  broke  her  heart.  Curled 
up  on  the  couch  in  Mama's  sitting-room,  she 
fell  into  a  restless  sleep,  and  dreamed  that  she 
and  her  mother  were  sailing  down  a  swift 
river  whose  waters  were  inky  black,  and  the 
boat  was  obliged  to  pass  between  high  banks 
which  were  so  narrow  that  she  could  almost 


ANXIOUS   HOURS  175 

touch  them,  but  so  high  and  steep  that  it  was 
impossible  to  climb  them.  Upon  their  tops 
were  queer  creatures  with  animals'  heads, 
which  seemed  trying  to  reach  down  and  drag 
her  mother  from  the  boat  as  it  sped  by,  yet 
were  not  quite  able  to  reach  her.  She  clasped 
her  arms  tightly  around  her,  and  cried  out: 
"  No,  no ;  you  cannot  go  from  me  !  "  and  with 
the  cry  wakened  to  find  Aunt  Helen  standing 
beside  her  and  saying:  "  Come,  Denise,  and 
speak  to  Mama." 


CHAPTER   XX 


AN    HOUR    OF    ANGUISH 


'ITHOUT  a  word  she  took  Aunt 
Helen's  hand,  and,  as  if  still  in  a 
dream,  passed  into  her  mother's 
room.  Going  to  the  bedside,  she  knelt  be- 
side it,  and  taking  the  poor,  thin  hand  in  her 
own,  laid  her  cheek  upon  it. 

No  sound  came  from  the  sufferer,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  she  had  already  passed  be- 
yond the  care  of  those  who  stood  or  sat  so 
silently  beside  her.  The  gentle,  white-capped 
nurse  sat  waving  a  fan  softly  back  and  forth, 
while  the  doctors  and  Mr.  Lombard  stood 
watching  every  breath. 

In  the  absolute  silence  every  sound  seemed 
intensified. 

Then  a  strange  thing  happened.  High 
and  clear  on  the  soft  night  air  came  little 
Ned's  loud  neigh,  just  as  he  called  to  De- 
nise  whenever  he  saw  her  in  the    distance. 

176 


AN   HOUR   OF   ANGUISH  177 

Whether  he  was  wide  awake  and  called  her, 
or  had  whinnied  in  his  dreams,  no  one  ever 
knew,  but  the  call  was  unmistakable,  and  De- 
nise  almost  started  to  her  feet.  As  she  did 
so  her  mother  slowly  opened  her  eyes,  and 
seeing  Denise,  whispered:  "Yes,  darling: 
Ned  is  calling  to  us  to  come  for  a  drive ,  we 
will  soon  be  ready."  And  with  a  smile  she 
turned  her  head  and  fell  into  her  first  refresh- 
ing sleep. 

Papa  left  the  room,  for  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  control  his  feelings  ;  but  Denise 
never  stirred,  and  not  until  three  o'clock  had 
struck  could  they  induce  her  to  leave  the 
bedside. 

No  one  attempted  to  send  her  to  bed,  and 
going  down-stairs,  she  said  to  John,  who  had 
sat  in  the  hall  throughout  all  the  long,  anxious 
night :   "  John,  did  you  hear  Ned  call  to  me  ?  " 

"  Faith,  I  did,  thin,  Miss  Denise ;  and  the 
holy  saints  be  blessed,  for  a  good  omen  it  is 
when  a  horse  whinnies  afther  midnight,  and 
the  dear  missis  will  be  gettin'  better  soon," 
said  he,  crossing  himself. 

"John,  I  want  you  to  take  me  to  Ned;  I 
want  to  see  him."  And  the  kind-hearted 
John  never  hesitated  an  instant,  but  led  her 


178  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

out  to  the  ^Bird's  Nest,  and  unlocking  the 
door,  lighted  the  gas. 

A  big  brown  eye  was  peeping  at  them 
through  the  slot  in  the  door,  and  a  soft  whin- 
nying was  saying  good  morning  as  Ned 
wondered  why  he  was  receiving  such  an  early 
visit. 

Denise  did  not  say  a  word,  but  putting  her 
arms  about  his  neck,  hugged  him  close  when 
John  led  him  into  the  play-house. 

Piling  her  rugs  and  cushions  on  the  floor, 
she  sat  down,  and  made  him  lie  down  beside 
her. 

Being  but  half  awake,  he  was  quite  ready 
to  snuggle  down,  and  with  his  head  in  her  lap 
was  soon  fast  asleep. 

John  went  back  to  the  house  to  tell  them 
where  Denise  was,  and  when  Mr.  Lombard 
came  out  twenty  minutes  later  to  take  her  in 
to  bed,  he  found  her  fast  asleep  on  her  cush- 
ions, with  her  little  pet  held  tightly  in  her 
arms. 

"  Did  iver  ye  see  the  loike  of  that,  soor?  " 
asked  John. 

"  No,  John,  I  never  did ;  and  through  all 
her  sad  trial  Ned  has  proved  her  greatest 
comfort,  and  I  would  not  disturb  them  now 


AN   HOUR   OF   ANGUISH  179 

for  their  weight  in  gold.     She  is  utterly  worn 
out." 

The  next  sunshine  brought  good  news  for 
all ;  for  the  fever  had  broken,  and  the  dear 
invalid  was  certainly  going  to  get  better. 

But  many  days  had  to  pass  before  the  lost 
strength  was  regained,  and  meantime  every- 
body was  anxious  to  do  something  for  the 
beloved  mother.  Denise's  lessons  had  been 
resumed,  and  all  went  as  usual  in  the  mornings; 
but  the  afternoons  were  devoted  to  the  "pre- 
cious Moddie  " —  more  than  ever  precious 
since  she  had  so  nearly  slipped  from  them. 
So  many  letters  to  be  read  and  kind  messages 
to  be  delivered ! 

Scarcely  a  day  had  passed  without  some 
word  from  Pokey,  who  nearly  grieved  herself 
to  death.  Next  to  her  own  people,  Pokey 
probably  loved  " Mrs.  Mama"  better  than  any 
one  else  in  the  world,  and  no  one  realized 
how  keenly  the  poor  child  suffered  in  her 
anxiety. 

Her  joy  on  receiving  the  good  news  had 
been  unbounded,  and  Pokey  could  now  study 
in  earnest;  for  it  had  been  impossible  for  her 
to  give  her  attention  to  school  or  anything  else. 

The    second    week    in    November    Mama 


180  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

began  to  get  about  once  more,  and  great  was 
the  rejoicing  when  she  again  took  her  place 
at  the  head  of  the  table.  Denise  would  have 
invited  all  the  lads  and  lasses  she  knew  to 
help  celebrate  the  great  event,  but  Mama  said 
they  had  better  wait  for  Thanksgiving,  which 
would  soon  be  upon  them. 

"  Papa,"  asked  Denise,  a  few  weeks  later, 
when  November  had  fairly  set  in,  and  had 
been  selfish  enough  to  destroy  all  the  lovely 
tints  displayed  by  "  Brown,  October  &  Co.," 
"are  you  going  to  live  in  the  city  again  this 
winter?" 

"  No,  little  maid,  I  think  not,  unless  you 
would  prefer  doing  so." 

"  Well,  I  just  guess  not.  It  was  hard 
enough  to  go  last  year,  when  Ned  was  spandy 
new,  and  I  had  no  Bird's  Nest;  but  I  just  be- 
lieve I  'd  die  dead  if  I  had  to  go  this  year." 

"You  need  not  prepare  to  'die  dead'  yet, 
then,  for  I  look  forward  to  a  cozy  winter  be- 
neath my  own  'roof-tree,'  and  the  carving  of 
my  own  gobbler  at  Thanksgiving;  and  this 
year  it  must  be  indeed  Thanksgiving,  for 
surely  we  never  had  greater  cause  to  be 
thankful,"  answered  Papa,  with  a  glance 
toward  Mama,  who  sat  reading  close  by. 


AN   HOUR   OF  ANGUISH  181 

"  Is  that  a  hint  for  me?"  asked  Mama,  who 
was  now  rapidly  getting  back  her  strength 
and  beginning  to  be  her  cheerful  self  once 
more. 

"  I  should  n't  wonder,  for  I  'm  already- 
whetting  my  appetite  for  something  extra 
nice  this  Thanksgiving,  having  been  cheated 
out  of  it  last,"  answered  Papa. 

"  You  shall  have  it,  for  now  that  I  am 
growing  so  strong,  Denise  is  going  to  help 
get  up  the  feast,  and  you  shall  see  what  a 
skilful  little  cook  the  Bird's  Nest  cooking- 
school  has  made  her." 

"  Good !  I  '11  prepare  myself  for  some- 
thing extra  plummy  a  week  from  Thursday, 
and  shall  put  myself  on  short  rations,  mean- 
while, in  order  to  be  in  prime  condition  to 
enjoy  it." 


CHAPTER   XXI 


THANKSGIVING 


N  about  a  week  Denise  and  her 
mother  were  deep  in  the  mysteries 
of  mince-pies  and  plum-cake,  each 
in  a  mob-cap  and  big  apron,  and  each  deter- 
mined that  such  a  Thanksgiving  dinner  should 
never  before  have  been  heard  of  as  the  one 
then  under  preparation. 

Such  pies  and  cakes  and  jellies  as  were 
set  away  in  the  store-room  the  days  before 
Thanksgiving !  No  wonder  Denise  said  that 
she  made  pies  all  day  and  dreamed  pies  all 
night. 

Thanksgiving  eve  began  with  a  heavy  snow- 
storm ;  for  winter  came  early  that  year,  and 
Ned's  coat  foretold  that  it  would  be  a  long 
and  cold  one. 

Such  a  shaggy  little  beast  had  replaced  the 
smooth,  silky  one  of  the  summer  that  Denise 
could  hardly  believe  it  to  be  the  same  Ned  in 

182 


THANKSGIVING  183 

his  winter  dress.  He  looked  more  like  a  little 
black  bear  than  anything  else,  for  his  hair  had 
grown  fully  two  inches  long,  and  stood  out  all 
over  him  in  such  a  soft  fluff  that  his  harness 
was  nearly  buried  out  of  sight  in  it. 

But  Thanksgiving  dawned  clear  and  cold, 
and  brought  with  it  the  aunts,  uncles,  and 
cousins  from  town,  all  ready  for  a  grand  frolic. 

As  soon  as  the  greetings  were  over,  the 
older  folks  settled  down  for  a  genuine  Thanks- 
giving "reminis."  But  the  boys  and  Denise 
had  livelier  ideas.  As  soon  as  rubber  boots 
could  be  pulled  on,  and  warm  coats  and  hats 
put  upon  the  wriggly  bodies,  they  tore  out  to 
the  Bird's  Nest  for  Ned. 

In  short  order  they  had  him  harnessed  to 
Denise's  sled,  and  away  he  went,  tearing 
around  the  grounds  with  first  one  boy  and 
then  another,  apparently  enjoying  himself 
as  much  as  any  other  lad. 

So  long  as  they  raced  beside  him,  or  flopped 
down  breakneck  fashion  on  the  sled  bobbing 
behind  him,  he  was  entirely  ready  to  oblige 
them  by  supplying  the  motive  power ;  but  let 
them  unharness  him,  and  try  to  get  upon  his 
back,  and  they  found  themselves  at  an  im- 
promptu circus. 


184  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

He  would  stand  perfectly  still  till  he  had 
them  safely  upon  his  feet,  and  off  their  ow7t, 
and  then  —  look  out ! 

Nothing  could  be  more  unsuspicious  than 
his  manner  of  starting,  but  in  one  little  fleet- 
ing instant  his  whole  attitude  would  change, 
and  off  he  would  go  like  a  shot,  rushing  ahead 
as  hard  as  he  could  pelt  for  about  sixty  yards, 
to  stop  as  quick  as  a  flash,  and  send  both 
hind  legs  straight  up  into  the  air,  and  his  luck- 
less rider  shooting  over  his  head  like  a  rocket. 

By  the  time  they  had  picked  themselves  up, 
Ned  had  assumed  a  most  innocent  expression, 
and  would  look  around  as  though  saying: 
"Why,  what  is  the  matter?  Did  anything 
happen  ? " 

Time  and  again  did  this  performance  take 
place,  and  no  boy  was  ever  known  to  stick  on, 
though  any  girl  in  the  place  might  ride  him 
for  hours,  and  find  him  gentle  as  a  lamb. 

But  Ned's  aversion  for  boys  in  general  was 
very  marked,  although  the  reason  therefor 
was  never  learned  by  Denise.  Probably  he 
retained  in  his  wise  little  head  a  memory  of 
treatment  at  their  hands  which  was  not  to 
be  forgiven,  and  consequently  took  advantage 
of  every  opportunity  to  pay  off  old  scores. 


THANKSGIVING  187 

No  wonder  appetites  were  whetted  by  such 
a  lively  morning  skirmish,  and  Papa's  gobbler 
would  have  quaked  if  cook's  care  had  not  al- 
ready put  him  beyond  all  quaking. 

It  was  a  rosy,  bright-eyed,  and  laughing 
party  which  sat  down  to  discuss  his  various 
tender  points  at  two  o'clock.  The  boys  could 
not  say  enough  in  praise  of  Denise's  culinary 
ability,  when  they  learned  that  she  had  had  a 
finger  in  the  preparation  of  the  Thanksgiving 
feast  and  the  Thanksgiving  pies. 

"  By  jolly !  I  don't  know  which  you  do 
best,  drive  or  cook,"  said  Dick,  when  he  had 
been  helped  to  mince-pie  for  the  third  time. 

"This  cake  is  just  prime,"  added  Fred, 
as  a  particularly  plummy  bit  slipped  out  of 
sight. 

"  Then  you  approve  of  our  combination 
Cooking  and  Equestrian  School,  boys?" 
asked    Mama. 

"  I  just  guess  we  do  !  "  answered  all  three 
in  a  breath ;  and  Rob  cut  in  with :  "  It  's 
immense  to  find  a  girl  that  can  do  all  sorts 
of  things.  I  don't  know  of  another  one  who 
can  take  a  horse's  harness  all  to  pieces  and 
put  it  together  again  without  buckling  the 
crupper  fast  to  the  head-stall,  and  then  turn 


188  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

round  the  next  minute  and  make  such  a  jolly 
plum-cake  as  this." 

Poor  Denise  was  so  embarrassed  that  she 
*  knew  not  what  to  say  or  where  to  look ;  for 
she  idolized  her  big  cousins,  and  felt  that  the 
very  height  of  bliss  was  obtained  when  they 
fell  to  praising  her  so  wildly.  But  you  may 
be  sure  she  liked  it,  and  felt  amply  repaid  for 
many  burns  and  mishaps  which  had  been  her 
lot  during  the  past  summer. 

After  the  boys  had  disposed  of  every  crumb 
it  was  possible  for  them  to  hold,  all  made 
ready  for  the  Thanksgiving  dance,  which  was 
to  begin  at  seven  and  end  at  eleven  o'clock ; 
for  Mama  and  Papa  were  old-fashioned,  and 
believed  in  early  hours. 

Denise  was  as  sweet  and  dainty  as  a  flower, 
in  soft,  pale-blue  nun's-veiling. 

Soon  "the  party  came  in,"  and  the  big 
parlors  were  pervaded  with  boys  and  girls, 
each  bent  upon  doing  him  or  herself  credit, 
no  matter  what  came. 

So  all  danced  or  played  games  till  nine 
o'clock,  when  a  loud  knock  at  the  door  caused 
all  to  look  toward  it,  and  in  walked  a  Pilgrim 
father. 

Over  one  shoulder  he  carried  a  gun,  upon 


THE  THANKSGIVING   PARTY. 


THANKSGIVING  191 

the  other  was  slung  an  immense  turkey  with 
wings  and  tail  flapping,  while  from  beneath 
the  lid  of  a  huge  basket  which  he  carried 
upon  his  arm  peeped  forth  all  the  good  things 
imaginable. 

Surely  it  could  be  none  other  than  Miles 
Standish,  dressed  as  of  old,  and  come  back 
to  tell  them  tales  of  long  ago,  when  Massa- 
chusetts was  a  wild  enough  place,  and  food 
not  so  plentiful  as  his  ample  supply  would 
lead  one  to  believe ;  and  certainly  the  tempt- 
ing boxes  of  bonbons  which  he  kept  taking 
out  of  his  basket  and  giving  to  the  children 
were  things  utterly  unheard  of  in  his  day. 

The  children  flocked  around  him,  and  lis- 
tened eagerly  as  tale  after  tale  was  told. 

An  hour  soon  slipped  by,  and  then  this  Pil- 
grim father  did  that  which  would  have  caused 
his  ancestors  to  fall  down  in  a  spasm.  He 
actually  led  the  Virginia  reel,  and  skipped 
down  through  the  long  line  of  boys  and  girls 
as  though  a  near  relative  of  St.  Vitus  himself. 

Then  came  a  jolly  farewell  to  stir  them  up 
and  prepare  them  for  the  next  merrymaking, 
which  Christmas  would  soon  bring  them. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

POKEY    COMES    TO    SPEND    CHRISTMAS 

*S  though  but  one  touch  was  required 
to  complete  the  lovely  birthday  gift 
and  make  the  year  now  drawing  to 
its  close  the  happiest  Denise  had  ever  known, 
the  snow  seemed  to  have  given  it  by  put- 
ting into  Papa's  head  a  charming  idea  for 
Christmas. 

Mama  and  Grandma  were  taken  into  the 
secret,  and  for  days  the  most  mysterious  bits 
of  work  were  hustled  out  of  sight  on  Denise's 
approach,  and  many  whispers  caused  her 
curiosity  to  mount  to  fever  pitch. 

"  But  then,"  as  she  said,  "  I  don't  mind 
being  poked  into  corners  and  told  not  to  ask 
questions  at  Christmas-time.  It  's  part  of 
the  fun,  and  I  like  not  to  know  a  thing  until 
the  very  day." 

Then,  too,  she  had  her  own  little  secrets, 
for  some  pretty  gift  must  be  made  for  each 

192 


POKEY   COMES   TO   SPEND   CHRISTMAS      193 

member  of  the  family,  and  the  work  all  her 
own.  "A  gift  that  I  just  go  and  buy  with 
the  money  Papa  gives  me  I  don't  think  is 
my  gift  at  all.  Anybody  could  do  that.  I 
want  to  work  some  love  into  it." 

But  Christmas  would  not  be  Christmas 
without  her  beloved  Pokey  to  chatter  to  and 
share  the  fun  with,  so  once  more  she  was 
borrowed  from  her  city  home,  only  too  glad 
to  go  where  so  hearty  a  welcome  awaited  her, 
for  no  one  could  help  loving  Pokey. 

Therefore  it  came  to  pass  that  Pokey  was 
again  upon  the  festive  scene  to  help  cele- 
brate, and  to  join  in  the  farewell  of  this  long 
story  of  a  snort  horse  —  for  I  think  it  high 
time  that  little  Mr.  Ned  and  his  mistress 
were  bidden   good-by. 

"  Little  daughter  mine,  there  will  be  a 
nearly  three  weeks'  holiday  this  year  for  you, 
as  Christmas  falls  upon  Wednesday,  and 
Pokey  will  surely  have  the  Monday  and  Tues- 
day previous.  So  we  will  have  her  out  on 
Monday  afternoon";  and  Mama  kissed  the 
happy  little  face  as  she  tied  the  hat-ribbons 
under  the  chin. 

"And  I  just  can't  keep  still,"  said  Denise, 
prancing  for  very  joy.     "  Mama,  do  you  think 


i94  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Pokey  will  be  pleased  with  the  gifts  we  have 
for  her?" 

"  I  'm  sure  she  will,  darling." 

Monday  afternoon  Denise  had  to  content 
herself  with  going  in  the  big  sleigh  to  meet 
Pokey,  for  Ned  had  none,  and  the  snow  put 
wheeling  out  of  the  question. 

So,  well  rolled  up  in  her  furs  and  the  robes, 
she  sat  waiting  for  the  train,  while  John 
flapped  his  hands  about  to  keep  warm,  for  the 
day  was  bitterly  cold,  and  even  his  fur  gloves 
and  big  fur  cape  could  not  keep  Jack  Frost  out. 

Flash  and  Sunshine  pawed  the  snow  im- 
patiently, for  they  much  preferred  a  good 
spanking  trot  to  waiting  at  a  railway-station 
on  such  a  day.  But  their  wait  was  not  a 
long  one,  and  soon  they  were  spinning  off 
home,  flinging  snowballs  at  Pokey  and  Papa, 
just  to  give  them  a  sample  of  what  horses 
could  do.  It  was  hard  to  tell  which  jingled 
the  louder,  the  bells  on  their  harness  or  the 
tongues  in  the  sleigh. 

"  How  shall  we  wait  for  Wednesday  to  get 
here  ?  "  asked  Denise. 

"  Can  you  guess  what  you  are  going  to 
have  for  Christmas  ? "  asked  Pokey,  with  a 
mischievous  twinkle  in  her  eyes. 


POKEY   COMES   TO   SPEND   CHRISTMAS      195 

"  No,  I  have  n't  the  least  idea ;  but  I  know 
what  I  wish  it  could  be." 

"What?" 

"I  'm  not  going  to  tell,  but  I  do  believe  you 
know  all  about  it.     Do  you  ? " 

"  Well,  I  should  n't  wonder  if  I  could 
guess,"  replied   Pokey. 

"  Oh,  do  just  tell  me  the  color,  and  I  won't 
ask  a  single  word  more,"  begged  Denise. 

"  Let  me  see.  Maroon,  cardinal,  dark 
green,  black,  white,  silver,  gold,  and  a  lit- 
tle pale  blue,   I  think." 

"What  under  the  sun  can  it  be?  —  a  plaid 
dress  ?     I  don't  want  any  more  dresses." 

"  No  ;  it  is  n't  a  dress." 

"  Maybe  it  's  the  Christmas  tree." 

"  No ;  but  you  are  not  to  guess  any 
more." 

"Well,  I  won't,  then;  but  I  never  can  wait 
without  flying  all  to  bits.  I  wonder  if  it 
moves  ?  " 

"Yes,  sometimes,  and  sings,  too."  And 
Pokey  laughed  as  though  she  could  tell  a 
very  pleasant  secret,  if  she  had  a  mind ;  but 
never  a  word  or  hint  did  she  let  slip. 

By  this  time  they  were  at  home,  and  De- 
nise flew  into  the  house,  crying,   "  I  Ve  got 


196  DENISE   AND   NED    TOODLES 

her  !  I  've  got  her !  "  as  though  Pokey  were 
a  wild  duck  or  some  such  trophy. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  since  my  last 
visit  ? "  asked  Pokey,  when  they  were  all 
seated  around  the  pleasant  open  fire  in  the 
library,  that  evening. 

"Studying  in  the  morning,  and  teaching 
Ned  his  tricks  in  the  afternoon.  You  ought 
to  see  him  do  them.  He  is  just  too  cute  for 
anything !  John  made  me  a  regular  circus- 
ring  out  in  the  vegetable  garden,  and  before 
the  snow  came  I  taught  Ned  all  sorts  of 
funny  tricks." 

"  I  hope  you  taught  him  not  to  chase  me 
any  more,"  said  Pokey,  with  some  feeling. 

"  No  ;  I  thought  that  was  too  funny  to  un- 
teach.  But  to-morrow  I  '11  show  you  what 
he  can  do.  I  can't  show  you  in  the  ring,  but 
he  will  do  them  just  as  well  in  the  Bird's  Nest." 

"  How  do  you  keep  warm  out  there  in  such 
awful  cold  weather  ?  "  asked  Pokey. 

"  Why,  did  n't  you  know  it  was  heated  by 
a  furnace  ? " 

"  I  never  thought  anything  about  it  till 
now,  when  you  said  we  would  go  out  there 
to-morrow,  and  I  did  n't  want  to  freeze  stiff 
before  Christmas." 


POKEY   COMES   TO    SPEND   CHRISTMAS      197 

"  I  don't  believe  she  will  after;  do  you, 
Mama  ? "  asked  Denise,  with  a  laugh. 

"  Hardly,  unless  she  takes  a  fancy  to  ex- 
plore Hudson  Bay,  or  some  such  cold  place 
where  seals  live,"  answered  Mama. 

Pokey  looked  very  mystified,  and  failed  to 
understand  what  possible  connection  there 
could  be  between  herself  and  the  seals,  al- 
though Mama's  emphasis  on  seals  set  her  to 
guessing. 

But  Christmas  morning  she  began  to  get 
her  wits  sharpened. 

"This  is  most  unusual  weather  for  this 
season  of  the  year,"  said  Mr.  Lombard,  who 
had  walked  over  to  the  bay-window  to  look 
out  upon  the  snowy  landscape  shining  in  the 
bright  moonlight.  "  If  such  intense  cold 
lasts,"  he  added,  "we  shall  have  skating  on 
the  river  for   Christmas." 

"  Oh,  do  you  think  so  ? "  exclaimed  Denise. 
"  Just  think,  Pokey ;  we  could  go  on  the 
river,  and  take  Ned  with  us  to  drag  the  sled, 
for  John  had  him  sharp-shod  only  a  week  ago. 
Would  n't  it  be  splendid?" 

"  You  may  take  Ned,  but  you  won't  take 
the  sled,  I  know,"  replied   Pokey. 

"  Why  not,  I  'd  like  to  know  ?     Of  course 


198  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

we  will ;  and  it  will  just  spin  over  the  ice. 
Why  don't  you  want  me  to  ? " 

"  I  don't  like  sleds"  said  Pokey,  with  em- 
phasis on  sleds. 

"  Why,  I  thought  you  loved  to  coast,  and 
this  will  be  just  the  same,  only  nicer." 

"  No ;  I  prefer  riding  in  sleighs"  said  Po- 
key, in  such  a  suggestive  tone  that  Mama, 
who  sat  behind  Denise,  shook  her  head  and 
wagged  an  admonishing  finger  at  the  mis- 
chievous Pokey. 

"  Then  I  guess  you  '11  have  to  go  in  the 
big  one  with  Papa  and  Mama,  for  I  'm  go- 
ing with  Toodledums,  if  we  go  at  all,"  said 
Denise. 

"  Well,  there  is  only  one  more  day  to  wait, 
anyway,  and  I  hope  it  will  just  fly  by,  for 
there  never  were  such  nice  Christmases  as  we 
have  here,  and  I  can  hardly  wait  for  the  day 
after  to-morrow  to  come,"  was  Pokey's  reply. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

NED    IS    PUT    THROUGH    HIS    PACES 

•  T  is  fortunate  for  little  folk  that  the 
days  preceding  Christmas  are  short 
ones,  or  they  never  would  be  able 
to  bottle  up  their  impatience  and  keep  the 
cork   in. 

Happily  Ned's  newly  acquired  tricks  proved 
a  safety-valve  for  Denise  and  Pokey. 

As  soon  as  possible,  next  morning,  they 
betook  themselves  to  the  Nest,  and  Master 
Ned  was  put  through  his  paces. 

First  Denise  put  a  bridle  on,  and  then 
slipped  a  surcingle  around  him,  to  which  she 
loosely  fastened  a  check-rein  to  keep  him 
from  poking  his  inquisitive  nose  where  it  was 
not  wanted. 

Ned  knew  exactly  what  was  expected  of 
him,  and  directly  Denise  raised  her  riding- 
whip,  up  he  rose  upon  his  hind  legs,  and 
walked  toward  her,  pawing  the  air  with  his 

199 


200  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

front  feet,  and  flirting  his  long  tail  behind  him 
like  a  train  of  a  gown. 

When  he  reached  her,  he  came  down  upon 
all  fours,  and  at  a  motion  from  her  hand  knelt 
down  on  his  knees  and  touched  the  floor  with 
his  nose. 

Pokey  stood  by,  with  her  hands  clasped  in 
silent  rapture,  not  daring  to  stir  a  speck  lest 
she  should  distract  the  performer.  At  De- 
nise's  command  he  got  up,  and  then  Pokey 
had  a  rapture. 

"  How  did  you  ever  do  it,  or  make  him 
understand  what  you  wanted  him  to  do  ? " 

"  I  half  believe  he  understands  every  word 
I  say  to  him,  anyway ;  for  when  I  stood  in 
front  of  him,  and  raised  my  whip  over  my 
head,  and  said,  '  Up,  up,'  he  seemed  to  know 
just  what  I  wanted,  and  got  right  up  on  his 
hind  legs.  Each  time  he  did  it  he  got  a  little 
higher ;  and  at  last,  holding  an  apple  on  the 
end  of  a  stick  as  high  as  I  could  reach,  I  got 
him  to  walk  after  me. 

"  When  he  reached  me,  and  got  down  on  all 
four  feet  again,  I  took  hold  of  one  foot,  and 
bent  it  under  him,  and  said,  '  Down,  down,' 
till  he  got  on  his  knees,  and  then  I  put  the 
apple  on  the  floor,  and  he  got  it — did  n't 


NED   IS   PUT   THROUGH    HIS   PACES         201 

you,  you  dear  old  darling  ? "  said  Denise, 
hugging  him. 

"  Did  you  ever  whip  him  ?  " 

"  Whip  him  !  Well,  I  guess  not.  I  only 
have  the  whip  to  point  with,  and  he  is  no 
more  afraid  of  it  than  he  is  of  a  piece  of 
straw.  I  don't  believe  he  knows  what  it  is 
for.  Do  you  ? "  she  said  to  the  little  pet, 
whose  warm  face  was  snuggled  close  beside 
her,  and  who  seemed  to  feel  that  the  arm 
thrown  caressingly  across  his  soft  neck  was 
the  nicest  sort  of  collar  ever  invented. 

**Do  make  him  do  something  else,"  said 
the  delighted  Pokey,  when  Ned  had  finished 
munching  his  apple,  which  was  never  denied 
him. 

"  Now  he  is  going  to  be  a  dead  horse — are 
n't  you  ?  "     And  Ned  nodded  his  head  "yes." 

"And  will  you  get  alive  again  when  I  tell 
you  to  ?  " 

Another  nod  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Do  you  like  to  be  dead  ?  " 

A  decided  shake  "  no." 

"  I  guess  I  won't  dead  him  here,"  said 
Denise,  laughing.  "  The  floor  is  too  hard. 
We  will  go  into  the  dining-room,  and  he  can 
go  dead  on  the  rug." 


202  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

Opening  the  communicating  door,  she  went 
into  the  play-house,  with  Ned  following  close 
at  her  heels,  and  Pokey  bringing  up  the  rear. 

Pushing  the  table  and  chairs  to  the  wall, 
she  sat  down  on  the  rug,   and  said : 

"  Poor  Ned  Toodles  is  so  sick  !  I  'm  afraid 
he  is  going  to  die." 

Then  the  comical  little  scamp  proceeded  to 
stretch  himself  out  upon  the  floor,  and  putting 
his  head  into  Denise's  lap,  drew  a  long  breath 
as  though  it  were  his  last. 

"  Now,  who  ever  heard  of  a  horse  dying 
with  his  eyes  wide  open,  I  'd  like  to  know  ?  " 
demanded  Denise,  and  she  put  a  hand  over 
the  big  brown  eye  looking  up  at  her  so 
knowingly. 

When  she  raised  it  again  the  eye  remained 
tight  shut,  and  Ned  was  to  all  appearances 
quite  defunct. 

"Sugar!"  cried  Denise;  and  up  popped 
the  dead  pony  to  search  her  hands  and  coat 
pockets  for  his  beloved  sweetie. 

"  Not  till  you  dance  for  it,"  said  Denise, 
and  she  began  softly  to  whistle  a  little  waltz 
song. 

Round  and  round  went  Ned  in  perfect  time 
to  the  song,  giving  a  funny  little  hop  at  each 


NED   IS   PUT   THROUGH   HIS   PACES         203 

turn,  as  though  to  emphasize  the  tune.  After 
five  or  six  turns  he  felt  that  he  had  done  his 
duty,  and  stopped  for  his  lump  of  sugar. 

"  Now  I  '11  get  John  to  bring  in  his  pedes- 
tal, and  you  shall  see  him  do  his  '  pose,'  "  said 
Ned's  proud  mistress,  highly  delighted  at  the 
impression  her  beloved  favorite  was  making; 
for  it  was  difficult  to  tell  which  she  loved 
best,  Pokey,  or  the  dear  little  shaggy  play- 
fellow. 

The  willing  John  soon  had  the  "pedestal" 
in  position,  and  after  giving  Ned  a  good- 
natured  mauling,  and  charging  him  to  "be 
afther  behavin'  hims'lf  foine  for  Miss  Pokey," 
he  left  the  children  to  their  amusement. 

"Come,  Ned,  and  do  your  pose,"  said  De- 
nise;  and  the  good-natured  little  fellow  got 
himself  upon  the  box,  and  soon  had  one  foot 
resting  on  a  block  of  wood,  and  the  other 
raised  to  the  top  of  a  post  which  was  consid- 
erably higher  and  had  been  fastened  to  slant 
a  little  outward,  thus  giving  him  a  very  grace- 
ful if  somewhat  trying  attitude. 

He  seemed  to  realize  that  he  looked  very 
handsome  perched  up  there,  for  he  arched 
his  neck  and  looked  as  self-conscious  as 
possible. 


204  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

"  I  never,  never  saw  anything  like  him  ! " 
cried  Pokey.  "I  've  seen  big  horses  at  a 
circus  do  such  things,  but  he  is  so  little  to 
know  so  much." 

"Well,  I  just  guess  you  've  got  as  much 
sense  as  those  big  horses,  have  n't  you,  you 
precious  scrap?"  said  Denise,  when  Ned  had 
come  down  off  his  perch  and  been  rewarded 
by  a  second  lump  of  sugar. 

"  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  him  play  hide- 
and-go-seek  with  me,  before  the  snow  came. 
I  would  leave  the  stable  door  open,  and  tell 
him  to  stand  still,  and  he  would  n't  move. 
Then  I  'd  go  hide  somewhere  in  the  grounds, 
and  whistle  for  him,  and  he  would  come  as 
hard  as  he  could  run,  and  hunt  everywhere 
till  he  found  me.  As  soon  as  he  spied  me  he 
would  kick  up  his  heels  and  scramble  back 
to  the  stable  as  fast  as  he  could  go." 

Certainly  the  tricks  had  served  to  pass  the 
morning  in  a  manner  highly  satisfactory  to 
all,  and  the  short  winter  afternoon  soon  slipped 
away,  to  bring  Christmas  eve  and  all  its  jol- 
lity upon  them.  All  was  bustle  and  fun,  for 
the  big  tree  had  to  be  brought  into  the 
library,  and  all  helped  to  dress  it.  John  was 
sent  up  the  step-ladder  to  put  the  ornaments 


NED   IS   PUT   THROUGH   HIS   PACES         20$ 

on  top,  while  the  big  people  and  little  decked 
the  lower  branches  with  all  manner  of  lovely 
trifles  sent  out  from  a  big  toy-store  in  New 
York. 

"I  hear,  soor,"  said  John,  from  his  lofty 
perch,  "that  a  man  is  afther  dhrivin'  over 
from  Tarry  town  on  the  ice  this  afternoon." 

"You  don't  say  so!"  cried  Mr.  Lombard. 
"That  is  good  news,  John,  for  we  can  have 
a  sleigh-ride  on  the  river  to-morrow.  Mind 
you  have  Ned  harnessed  to  Miss  Denise's  lit- 
tle sled,  and  tie  on  a  dinner-bell  if  you  can 
find  nothing  better ;  for  we  must  have  bells!' 

"I  '11  not  forget,  soor,"  said  John,  with  a 
pleased  laugh. 

By  eleven  o'clock  the  tree  was  indeed  a 
pretty  sight,  and  then  the  packages,  big  and 
little,  square  and  round,  flat  and  thick,  knobby 
and  smooth,  were  laid  beneath  it,  to  be 
opened  next  morning,  and  the  children  were 
hurried  off  to  bed. 

Before  they  settled  themselves  for  the  night, 
the  stockings  had  to  be  hung,  and  much  guess- 
ing went  on  as  to  what  would  be  fished  out 
next  morning. 

"  I  'm  going  to  keep  wide  awake  till  Aunt 
Helen  and  Mama  come  for  our  stockings,  and 


206  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

then  squeak  at  them  after  they  have  filled 
them,"  said  Denise. 

"  I  'm  not,"  said  Pokey.  "  I  'm  too  tired 
and  sleepy  to  care  what  they  put  in ;  and 
if  I  go  straight  to  sleep,  morning  will  come 
quicker." 

"  I  'm  not  going  to  sleep,  if  you  do,"  de- 
clared Denise,  with  a  yawn  that  nearly  split 
her  jaws  asunder,  and  promptly  denied  the 
words. 

Pokey  laughed,  and,  snuggling  herself 
down  under  the  covers,  was  soon  dreaming 
of  a  Christmas  tree  upon  the  top  of  which 
Ned  was  dancing  a  waltz,  while  Denise  played 
a  tune  on  a  round  bundle  which  she  had  taken 
from  beneath  the  tree,  and  which  kept  turning 
into  a  tin  horn. 

Denise,  no  doubt,  intended  to  keep  her 
word ;  but  keen  wintry  winds  and  snug  beds 
are  not  likely  to  keep  an  eleven-year-old 
maiden  wide  awake,  so  Mama  and  Auntie 
filled  the  stockings  without  being  interrupted 
by  the  "squeak." 


CHAPTER   XXIV 


STOCKINGS 


kERRY  Christmas,  Pokey,  merry 
Christmas  !  "  shouted  Denise,  long 
before  daylight.  "Wake  up,  quick, 
and  let 's  see  what  we  have  in  our  stockings  "  ; 
and  she  bounced  out  of  bed  to  turn  up  the 
gas. 

Pokey  needed  no  second  shake  that  morn- 
ing, and  soon  both  were  down  on  the  hearth- 
rug, with  two  very  fat,  queer-shaped  stockings 
before  them. 

Before  the  investigation  began,  Denise 
poked  the  logs,  which  burst  into  a  blaze, 
as  though  they  were  all  ready  to  join  in  the 
merrymaking. 

"You  do  yours  first,"  said  Denise;  and 
Pokey  began  in  her  solemn,  breathless  way 
to  take  out  one  article  after  another. 

First  a  dainty  box  of  bonbons ;  next  a 
pretty  pair  of  silk  mittens,  with  "  Grandma  " 


208  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

written  on  a  slip  of  paper  and  pinned  to  them  ; 
then  a  big  orange,  with  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth, 
as  well  as  mustache  and  whiskers,  cut  on  it  — 
unmistakably  Papa's ;  a  lot  of  nuts ;  a  little 
box  marked  "  Aunt  Helen,"  and  in  it  a  pretty 
silver  bangle ;  more  nuts,  and  then  a  big 
box  which  stuck  fast  in  the  toe  and  had  to  be 
coaxed  out.  This  was  marked  "  Mama,"  and 
upon  opening  it,  another  box  was  found,  and 
opening  that,  still  another,  like  the  magic  nut 
in  the  story  of  the  "  White  Cat." 

"  I  don't  believe  there  is  anything.  It  's 
all  fun,"  said  Denise,  whose  patience  was  on 
tenter-hooks. 

"  Yes,  there  is,  too.  I  'm  coming  to  it  now, 
and  there  it  is  —  oh  !  "  And  Pokey  hugged  a 
dainty  little  gold  necklace,  with  pretty  heart- 
shaped  locket,  upon  which  little  Dan  Cupid 
was  painted  in  enamel. 

"  Is  n't  it  just  too  sweet  for  anything  ?  —  and 
I  've  always  wanted  a  necklace.  Quick  !  take 
out  your  things  and  see  what  you  've  got.  I 
know  there  can't  be  anything  as  lovely  as 
this";  and  she  put  her  necklace  on  over  her 
night-dress  to  try  the  effect. 

"  Here  's  a  box  of  candy  just  like  yours  ; 
let  's  eat  one  to    celebrate  Christmas.     And 


CHRISTMAS   MORNING. 


STOCKINGS  211 

look !  here  are  mittens  from  Grandma,  only 
mine  are  brown  and  yours  blue.  I  wonder 
what  this  can  be  ?  A  little  box  from  Aunt 
Helen.  Should  n't  wonder  if  I  had  a  bangle 
too.  No,  it  is  n't,  either  ;  it  's  —  ah  !  an  opal 
ring !  That  's  my  lucky  stone,  because  I 
was  born  in  October.  Is  n't  it  lovely  f  See, 
it  just  fits,  and  shines  just  like  the  flames." 

Several  minutes  were  passed  in  admiring 
the  pretty  little  ring  as  it  flashed  back  the 
colors  of  the  fire,  and  then  the  rummage  was 
resumed. 

"  Oh,  what  can  this  be  ?  A  big  apple  with 
Papa's  face  cut  on  that  too.  Is  n't  it  the  fun- 
niest thing  you  ever  saw  ?  I  wonder  how 
he  ever  did  it  ?  "  And  a  bubbling  laugh  came 
to  keep  Christmas.  "  Such  a  lot  of  nuts  !  I  'd 
like  to  eat  some  this  minute,  only  I  know 
Mama  would  n't  like  to  have  me  eat  such 
things  before  breakfast. 

"  Now,  whatever  is  this  ? "  And  Denise 
undid  something  carefully  wrapped  in  tin- 
foil. 

"  Oh,  Pokey,  Pokey,  do  see !  A  big  lump 
of  make-believe  taffy,  and  two  tin  spoons  tied 
on  it!  That  old  John!  I  just  know  he  got  this 
for  me.     Never  mind;  there  is  real  candy  in- 


212  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

side  of  it,  and  he  can  laugh  all  he  has  a 
mind  to." 

"  Wonder  why  he  did  n't  put  in  a  pan  while 
he  was  about  it  ?  "  said  practical  Pokey. 

"  Now,  let  's  hurry  and  get  to  the  bottom, 
if  I  ever  can  shake  out  all  these  nuts.  There 
is  a  big  box  in  the  toe,  just  like  yours.  Don't 
I  wish  it  could  be  a  necklace  too! "  And  De- 
nise  fell  to  unwrapping  box  after  box  as 
Pokey  had  done. 

"  It  is!"  And  she  drew  out  a  beautiful 
little  necklace  in  rope  pattern,  with  a  small 
locket  in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe,  the  nails 
being  tiny  turquoises.  Inside  was  Ned's  own 
little  face  on  one  side,  and  ^Papa's  smiled  at 
her  from  the  opposite. 

She  uttered  a  cry  of  delight,  and  fell  to 
kissing  them  as  hard  as  she  could,  and  it  was 
some  time  before  Pokey  could  persuade  her 
to  leave  off  to  dress  for  breakfast. 

"  I  don't  believe  I  can  have  anything  that 
will  please  me  more  than  this  necklace,"  said 
Pokey,  when  they  were  both  dressed  in  their 
pretty  plaid  dresses, — one  in  deep  reds,  the 
other  in  deep  greens, —  and  both  adorned  with 
the  new  necklaces,  with  the  bangle  to  jingle 
and  the  ring  to  glitter. 


STOCKINGS  213 

"  I  'm  sure  I  don't  know  of  anything  else  I 
could  have,  for  I  've  got  every  wish  now,"  ex- 
claimed Denise. 

Two  hours  later,  all  the  household,  from 
Grandma  down  to  Eliza  Cook,  were  assembled 
in  the  pleasant  library,  while  Papa  distributed 
the  gifts ;  for  in  this  home  none  was  forgot- 
ten, and  all  shared  the  greatest  of  all  holidays, 
feeling  in  the  fullest  sense  "  good  will  toward 
men." 

Each  received  some  pretty  and  appropriate 
gift,  and  from  Grandma's  warm  sealskin  hood 
for  a  sleigh-ride,  to  Beauty  Buttons's  new  ball 
and  collar,  the  gift  suited  the  recipient. 

Pokey's  delight  when  she  opened  a  box 
containing  a  lovely  little  collar  and  muff  of 
otter  was  quite  beyond  words,  and  the  happy 
child  just  hugged  them  up  in  her  arms  and 
cried  over  them. 

"Now  I  know  why  you  said  I  might  like 
to  go  to  see  the  seals,"  said  she,  when  her 
emotions  had  been  brought  under  control ; 
"  for  otters  and  seals  are  cousins,  are  n't 
they  ?  "  And  she  hugged  her  treasures,  too 
happy  to  think  of  trying  them  on. 

At  last  the  final  parcel  was  presented,  and 
hearty  thanks   given    to   those  who    had  so 


214  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

wisely  and  generously  remembered  each  and 
all.  Even  Sailor  paraded  about  with  a  great 
blue  satin  bow  on  his  collar,  and  a  huge 
rubber  ball  in  his  mouth,  wagging  his  plumy 
tail,  and  getting  into  everybody's  way. 

"  It  's  just  too  bad  that  dear  little  Ned 
can't  come  indoors  and  have  some  fun  too. 
We  have  all  had  something  nice,  and  he  has 
not  had  a  single  thing,  and  I  think  it  's  a 
great  shame,"  said  Denise,  with  some  feeling; 
for  Ned  had  shared  all  her  good  times  for  the 
past  year,  and  she  felt  only  half  there  without 
him. 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Papa.  "  John,  go  fetch 
him  up  to  the  door,  and  we  will  feed  him 
cream-drops,  anyway.  Put  on  your  wraps, 
children,  and  then  we  can  stay  out  a  little." 

By  some  mysterious  power,  all  seemed  to 
have  suddenly  become  children  again,  for 
each  hurried  into  a  wrap  of  some  sort,  and 
went  out  upon  the  piazza. 

"  I  guess  Ned  will  get  a  feast  if  we  all  feed 
him  cream-drops,"  said  Denise,  as  they  stood 
waiting  for  him. 

In  a  moment  she  heard  a  silvery  jingle,  and 
the  next  instant  bonny  Ned,  harnessed  to 
an    exquisite    little    Albany    cutter,    dashed 


STOCKINGS  215 

around  the  corner  of  the  Bird's  Nest,  where 
John  had  kept  him  hidden,  all  ready  to  pro- 
duce at  an  instant's  notice. 

So  when  Papa  gave  the  hint  under  cover 
of  cream-drops,  John  hurried  away  to  get  his 
charge.  Whisking  off  Ned's  blanket,  he 
stepped  into  the  sleigh,  and  gathering  up  the 
reins,  drove  the  star  actor,  with  all  his  prop- 
erties, before  the  admiring  audience. 

A  string  of  silver  bells  encircled  him,  and 
bright  scarlet  plumes  waved  on  his  head,  as 
he  pranced  and  curveted  up  to  the  door. 

Denise  was  simply  speechless.  Her  eyes 
went  from  one  point  to  the  other  of  the  dainty 
rig,  and  then  she  walked  calmly  down  the 
steps ;  went  up  to  Ned,  and  kissed  his  white 
moon ;  turned  to  the  sleigh,  and  touched  it 
gingerly,  as  though  afraid  it  might  vanish  ; 
walked  around  it,  and,  finally  getting  into  it, 
drew  the  beautiful  bear-skin  robe  around  her 
and  tucked  it  in,  without  uttering  one  word. 

Then  looking  up  to  the  piazza,  where  all 
stood  watching  her,  she  said  :  "  I  don't  think 
it  is  all  a  dream,  and  I  do  believe  I  Ve  got  my 
last  Christmas  wish ;  but  if  I  should  wake  up 
and  find  it  one,  I  think  I  would  just  wish  I  had 
never  come  into  the  world.     Pokey," —  with  a 


216  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

sudden  change  of  voice  and  tone, — "  come 
here  this  minute  and  pinch  me." 

Down  flew  the  delighted  Pokey,  crying  all 
in  one  breath,  as  she  scrambled  into  the  seat 
beside  Denise :  "Is  n't  it  maroon,  cardinal, 
dark  green,  black,  white,  silver,  gold,  and 
a  little  pale   blue  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  color  it  is.  I  only 
know  I  *m  going  straight  up  there  to  hug 
that  blessed  Papa's  head  'most  off,  and  give 
Mama  a  million  kisses  "  ;  and  out  she  tumbled 
to  give  vent  to  her  pent-up  feelings. 


CHAPTER   XXV 

THE    STAR    ACTOR'S    FAREWELL    APPEARANCE 

[FTER  Denise  had  fulfilled  her  mis- 
sion, and  Papa  and  Mama  had 
received  the  reward,  which  was,  to 
them,  the  most  precious  that  could  be  given, 
she  took  time  to  examine  the  lovely  little 
sleigh,  which,  from  its  dainty  gold  monogram 
on  the  dash-board,  to  the  snug  foot-warmer, 
with  another  monogram  embroidered  by 
Mama's  kind  hands  in  gold  floss  upon  pretty 
brown  cloth,  was  as  perfect  as  the  united 
efforts  of  those  who  loved  her  so  dearly  could 
make  it. 

"  Shall  I  fetch  out  the  little  schled  and  the 
dinner-bell,  Miss  Denise  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  No,  thank  you  ;  I  'd  rather  have  taffy  and 
two  spoons  —  it  won't  melt  this  weather," 
answered  Denise,  with  a  mischievous  laugh. 

"Faith,  ye  have  me  there,  and  no  misthake, 
and  so  I  '11  only  be  wishin'  ye  good  luck  with 

"7 


218  DENISE   AND   NED   TOODLES 

yer  dandy  little  rig  "  ;  and  John's  good-natured 
laugh  emphasized  his  wish. 

When  she  had  finished  admiring  her  pret- 
tiest of  all  the  Christmas  gifts,  she  drove  back 
to  the  Bird's  Nest  to  let  Ned  wait  in  its 
shelter  till  she  and  Pokey  were  ready  to  start 
for  their  ride  on  the  river. 

There  she  found  another  surprise  awaiting 
her,  for  the  body  of  the  depot-wagon  had 
been  placed  on  a  cunning  set  of  "  bobs,"  and 
was  ready  for  use  when  the  little  cutter 
should  prove  too  dainty  for  a  grand  frolic, 
or  too  small  for  an  extra  large  load. 

"  I  don't  believe  any  girl  ever  had  so  many 
nice  things  all  at  once,"  said  Denise,  when 
she  and  Pokey  had  hopped  in  and  out  of  the 
bob-sleigh  about  a  dozen  times,  and  examined 
every  bolt  and  bar  very  critically. 

"  I  believe  I  've  the  dearest,  bestest,  nicest 
Papa  and  Mama  and  Grandma  that  ever 
lived,  for  Grandma  made  the  warm  mittens, 
and  so  helped  the  surprise." 

"  I  just  guess  you  have"  was  the  positive 
reply ;  "  and  they  are  just  as  nice  to  me  as 
they  are  to  you.  I  think  my  fur  collar  and 
muff  the  dearest  anybody  ever  had." 

Presently  they  both  ran  into  the  house  to 


THE  STAR  ACTOR'S  FAREWELL  APPEARANCE  219 

prepare  for  the  morning  sleigh -ride ;  for  Papa, 
Mama,  and  Aunt  Helen  were  to  go  in  the  big 
sleigh,  with  John  to  drive  them,  and  the 
children  would  follow  in  the  "  toy  sled,"  as 
John  insisted  upon  calling  the  cutter,  to 
Denise's  intense  disgust. 

Ned  seemed  to  enjoy  the  cutter  immensely 
as  it  slipped  so  easily  behind  him,  and  the 
cold  weather  made  him  frisk  and  prance. 

A  short  drive  brought  them  to  the  frozen 
river,  which  by  this  time  presented  a  very 
lively  appearance,  for  the  holiday  set  every- 
body free  to  enjoy  the  sleighing  and  skating, 
and  a  perfect  day  brought  the  whole  town 
and  the  town's  friends  to  the  ice. 

Driving  down  a  steep  hill,  they  reached 
the  edge  of  the  ice,  and  here  a  very  funny 
thing  happened.  Ned  positively  refused  to 
go  upon  it.  He  planted  his  tiny  feet  close  to 
the  edge,  and  then  he  stopped,  shaking  his 
head,  snorting,  and  evincing  every  sign  of 
fear ;  for  he  could  not  understand  how  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  walk  on  a  river,  and  he 
had  no  idea  of  committing  suicide. 

Denise  coaxed  and  scolded,  but  it  was  of 
no  use  till  she  got  out  of  the  cutter  and  went 
upon   the   ice  herself;   then   the  little  fellow 


220  DENISE  AND  NED  TOODLES 

looked  at  her  very  questioningly  for  a  mo- 
ment, and,  as  she  called  to  him,  began  to  step 
forward  very  gingerly,  as  though  he  doubted 
the  evidence  of  his  own  eyesight.  Feeling 
his  way  carefully,  he  got  well  out  upon  the 
ice  and  close  up  to  Denise,  where  he  stood 
trembling  and  looking  about  him. 

But  she  soon  calmed  his  fears  by  stroking 
him  and  petting  him ;  and  as  Sunshine  and 
Flash  dashed  by  a  moment  later,  the  last 
remnant  of  his  fears  vanished,  and  with  a  long 
neigh  he  was  ready  to  dash  after  them. 

Giving  a  final  pat,  she  jumped  into  the 
sleigh,  and  away  went  Ned  full  tilt,  the  tiny 
cutter  skimming  over  the  smooth  ice  as 
though  it  had  wings  on  the  runners. 

Such  a  glorious  morning  as  that  was, 
driving  up  and  down  the  river,  and  once  away 
across  to  Tarry  town ;  for  a  steady  stream  of 
sleighs  was  going  to  and  fro,  and  the  ice 
was  thick  enough  to  hold  a  regiment,  if 
necessary. 

Dinner-hour  came  all  too  soon,  and  our 
party  had  to  start  homeward,  much  to  Ned's 
disgust ;  for  he  liked  the  smooth  surface  to 
skip  over,  and  was  as  reluctant  to  leave  it  as 
he   had   been  disinclined  to  go  upon  it,  and 


THE  STAR  ACTOR'S  FAREWELL  APPEARANCE  223 

required  nearly  as  much  coaxing  to  induce 
him  to  go  back  to  terra  firma,  where  home 
and  an  extra  Christmas  feed  awaited  him. 

And  now  we  will  leave  him  and  Denise  as 
they  are  climbing  the  hill  toward  that  dear 
home  and  a  merry  Christmas  dinner ;  for  1 
am  sure  we  have  told  enough  about  them  to 
please  all  the  lads  and  lasses  who  love  ponies 
and  their  performances,  although  we  know 
that  all  ponies  are  not  as  wise  as  the  one 
we  have  been  telling  about,  or  their  little 
mistresses  as  much  indulged.  Do  you  won- 
der if  she  grew  up  to  be  wise  and  unselfish, 
or  disagreeable  ?  Who  can  tell  ?  But  one 
thing  I  know  quite  positively.  To  this  day 
she  loves  horses  and  ponies,  and  they  love 
and  trust  her  just  the  same,  and  never  fail  to 
come  to  her  call ;  and  as  she  passes  along  the 
streets  she  often  stops  to  speak  to  some  horse, 
and  pat  him,  or  give  him  a  lump  of  sugar  from 
a  little  pocket  which  she  keeps  filled  with 
lumps  for  that  very  purpose. 

Several  horses  have  gotten  to  know  her 
quite  well,  and  always  whinny  softly  when  they 
hear  her  voice.  Perhaps  she  is  the  only  one 
from  whom  they  ever  receive  a  kind  word  or 
gentle  touch,  and  they  are  always  very  grateful. 


224  DENISE  AND   NED   TOODLES 

But  she  loves  them  all,  whether  they  be 
handsome  or  ugly,  happy  or  wretched,  just 
for  the  sake  of  dear  little  Ned  Toodles. 

But  many  years  passed  before  she  had  to 
bid  little  Ned  farewell,  and  all  were  happy, 
and  filled  with  delightful  times,  although  none 
was  quite  equal  to  the  first  one,  which  brought 
all  the  surprises. 

Ned,  Tan,  and  "  the  children "  lived  long 
and  prospered  finely,  and  were  quite  as  much 
members  of  the  family  as  real  folk. 

Many  of  their  pictures  are  still  kept  by 
Denise,  who  often  looks  at  them,  and  thinks 
of  the  happy  hours  she  spent  with  the  ori- 
ginals, and  then  tells  her  own  little  Denise 
of  the  wild  pranks  in  which  they  figured. 


